The Statesville City Council approved a rezoning request to allow construction of a data center on farmland, despite strong opposition from residents who packed city hall on Monday.
The proposal by Compass Data Centers would convert agricultural land near Stamey Farm Road into five warehouse-style buildings to house servers and computer equipment. The project also includes plans for an electrical substation and a temporary batch plant for construction materials.
City leaders voted unanimously in favor of the proposal. An uproar of disagreement from residents was heard in the meeting room after the vote.
Many residents pointed to the environmental impact expected from the data center. Others worried that their voices in county areas, rather than the city of Statesville, were being silenced on the matter.
The rezoning approval opens the door for additional uses beyond the data center, including warehouses, outdoor storage facilities, and office space — a provision that has raised concerns among residents about future development pressure on the area.
Not every public comment was in opposition to the project. Several speakers spoke in favor of the proposal.
There is no timeline for when the data center will be built.