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The Data Center Divide

Johnston County

Anti-Data Center Policies

Johnston County’s I-2 district does not list data centers as permitted, and unlisted uses are prohibited, creating a zoning hurdle. A separate restriction applies to one project, not countywide; another zoning path may be available.

current law · County project: 28.38-acre site near Cleveland Road and Pierce Road in Cleveland Township; county planning jurisdiction
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners held a March 2, 2026 public hearing and initially tabled Prologis Inc.’s request to rezone 28.38 acres near Cleveland and Pierce roads for heavy-industrial use, before approving the rezoning on March 16.Johnston County Board of Commissioners’ March 2, 2026 Prologis Rezoning Approval — Cleveland Township

What this means

Data centers are not listed as permitted uses in the I-2 district, and uses not listed are prohibited, creating a meaningful zoning hurdle. A separate restriction excludes them from one proposed project, but this is not a countywide ban and another zoning path may be available.

People behind it

  • Proposed increasing minimum staffing levels and establishing a minimum pay scale for part-time firefighters.

  • Requested authorization to advertise liens for delinquent 2025 tax bills.

  • Requested rezoning to build an electrical substation on 24.05 acres in Cleveland Township.

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  • Requested heavy-industrial zoning to construct two buildings on 28.38 acres in Cleveland Township.

  • Adopted and administered the measures described in the March 16, 2026 meeting recap.

  • Proposed rezoning 28.38 acres near Cleveland and Pierce roads and agreed to tenant restrictions and an increased vegetative buffer.

  • Proposed improvements to Cleveland and Steel Bridge roads and requested that specified subdivision streets be added to its maintenance list.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • The rezoning of 28.38 acres near Cleveland and Pierce roads for heavy industrial use includes the developer’s agreement not to pursue data-center tenants.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions9

  • The I-2 district permits research and development facilities, providing a zoning pathway for data-center-related research or technical operations. Research/Development Facility

  • The I-2 district permits warehouse facilities, wholesale establishments, and warehousing, providing permitted-use options for data-center buildings or associated storage operations. Warehouse Facility/Wholesale Establishment

  • Public and private utility stations are permitted in I-2, supporting utility infrastructure that may serve industrial facilities. Public/Private Utility Stations

  • Public and private utility facilities are available through the I-2 special-use process, providing a potential permitting path for larger utility infrastructure. Public/Private Utility Facilities

  • Accessory uses and structures are permitted when located on the same lot as the principal use and within the I-2-zoned area, allowing supporting facilities to be developed with a primary operation. Accessory uses and structures

  • Outdoor storage is permitted in I-2 if enclosed by an eight-foot fence that is opaque or sufficiently screened. Outdoor storage

  • I-2 has no building-height restriction when a building is adjacent to a nonresidential zoning district; buildings adjacent to residential zoning are limited to 40 feet. Maximum building height

  • I-2 provides defined building setbacks: 40 feet from arterial or collector rights-of-way, 30 feet from local-street rights-of-way, 10 feet from interior lot lines adjoining commercial or industrial zoning, 20 feet from interior lot lines adjoining residential zoning, and 15 feet from access easements. Minimum building setbacks

  • A parallel conditional zoning district is authorized for I-2, allowing a project-specific conditional zoning process under G.S. 160D-703. Conditional zoning districts

Sources

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