Orange County NC Website
22 <br /> Chair Hamilton and Commissioners Carter, Portie-Ascott, and McKee said they wanted to <br /> set a recommended price for the property. Vice-Chair Fowler and Commissioners Bedford and <br /> Greene did not. <br /> Chair Hamilton said the price could be the appraisal price. <br /> David Stancil suggested staff revise the solicitation document and bring it back to the <br /> Board for further discussion. <br /> The Board agreed by consensus to have staff revise the solicitation document. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler asked if county staff previously drafted a plan for fields on this property <br /> and if it took up the whole 45 acres. <br /> David Stancil said they drafted plans for a 6-field complex, which included parking, septic <br /> fields, infrastructure, easements, and stormwater needs. He said that plan took up most of the 45 <br /> acres. He said the actual fields will only be a portion of the area the commissioners are <br /> considering. <br /> c. Discussion of Moratorium on "Data Centers" as a Land Use <br /> The Board received an overview of the impacts of data centers and discussed a possible 1-year <br /> moratorium on new data centers as a permitted land use. <br /> BACKGROUND: At the March 5, 2026, Board Business meeting, Commissioner Marilyn Carter <br /> petitioned to ask staff to prepare a presentation for the Board's March 17, 2026, Business meeting <br /> addressing the following: <br /> 1) The potential impacts of large-scale data center development in Orange County, including <br /> electricity demand, water usage, land use compatibility, environmental considerations, <br /> and potential impacts on residents' utility costs, and water quality. <br /> 2) Policy options available to the County, including, but not limited to, a temporary <br /> moratorium on data center development, revising the Orange County Land Use Plan and <br /> UDO, and the legal process required to implement each option. <br /> 3) Recommendation(s)for Board action. <br /> Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford asked that noise and environmental justice also be included. <br /> The County Attorney and Planning Director have prepared a presentation, with sources cited for <br /> reference, regarding the potential impacts from "large-scale data centers". The County Attorney <br /> also assessed two policy options available to the Board in declaring a moratorium on this land <br /> use, less than or greater than 60 days. There are differing public notice criteria for the two <br /> moratorium options. <br /> A pending amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to regulate data centers as <br /> a permitted land use may also be directed to staff, at the Board's pleasure. It is not possible to <br /> amend the UDO's text within 60 days due to the administrative requirements of Orange County's <br /> LIDO. <br /> Cy Stober, Planning and Inspections Director, made the following presentation: <br />