The Orange Town Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday regarding recommended changes that would require potential data center projects to undergo a special use permit (SUP) application process.Â
Last month, the Orange Planning Commission held a public hearing to amend the town zoning ordinance to remove data centers as a by-right use in the traditional town center (TTC) zoning district and change them from by-right to requiring a special use permit in the town activity center (TAC), rural commercial (RC) and traditional industrial zoning districts (TI). Data centers are not permitted in the rural residential (RR), traditional residential low density (TR-L) and traditional residential high density (TR-H) districts. During the hearing, several residents voiced their concerns about data centers, including impacts on surrounding properties and natural resources. The commission ultimately recommended the changes to the town council for approval. These changes will be part of next week’s hearing, along with an additional change of requiring a SUP for data centers in the Round Hill Traditional Neighborhood Development district, something that was initially overlooked.
The hearing will also involve an amendment to the definition of “school” in the zoning ordinance. This change is not related to data centers and was instead spurred by a recent inquiry regarding opening a cooking school in town. The amended school definition would have two additional sections added including “unlicensed instruction for children and adults in a group setting in the arts, vocational and hobby activities and academic tutoring” and “post-secondary curriculum and instruction.”
The planning commission also discussed a new definition for “data centers,” but felt more time was needed to research the issue. The current data center definition is said to be “inconsistent with current data center function and purpose.”
During this week’s meeting, the commission again discussed the definition, focusing on one that is taken largely from state code. Again the commissioners said they needed more research, opting to wait for an article director of community development Deborah Sturm said she would pass along that explains data centers in depth.
The commission is also discussing a draft data center policy. Sturm said the policy will serve as a framework for drafting data center rules and regulations in the zoning ordinance.
“It’s kind of like creating an outline when writing a story to make sure you include all the points,” she said.
Commission chairman Ben Sherman said policies don’t mean much compared to ordinances.
“We need to make sure the zoning ordinance is doing what we need,” he said. “That’s the enforcer.”
Sturm said should a data center application come to the town, making the use require a special use permit application will ensure it goes through a multi-step process that requires public input.
“There are lots of opportunities for public input during the SUP process,” she said. “That’s why the staff recommended those uses not be allowed by-right any longer.”
Commissioner Martha Roby said the draft policy is an excellent start and addresses some of the things that have been mentioned by residents.
“The one thing I do agree strongly on is the need to protect our community’s historical resources, aesthetics, environmental integrity and way of life,” she said. “In listening to what people [have] said, I think those things hit heavily on their concerns.”
Commissioner Page Sullenberger said the commission should consider prohibiting data centers in specific zoning districts.
“I think that ought to be looked at,” she said. “I would just put it in industrial [zoning].”
The town council will host a public hearing on requiring SUPs for data centers and the definition of schools Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Town of Orange Community Meeting Room, 235 Warren Street, Orange.
