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The Data Center Divide

Mecklenburg County

Pro-Data Center Policies

Mecklenburg County rezoned specific parcels to industrial use for data centers, easing development there, while changing another parcel to agriculture for conservation. The approvals retain ordinary road-access and stormwater requirements, with no special data-center restrictions described.

current law · County measure
Approves Microsoft Corporation’s rezoning of three parcels from Agriculture to Industrial M-1 to allow data centers, following a voluntary boundary adjustment that brought the properties from the Town of Chase City into Mecklenburg County.Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors Minutes, May 9, 2022 — Microsoft Corporation rezoning from Agriculture to Industrial M-1 for data centers

What this means

The county approved rezoning parcels from agriculture to industrial specifically to allow data centers, making development easier on those properties (rezoning to allow data centers). But another action changed 68.5 acres from industrial to agriculture for a conservation easement, limiting development on that parcel (rezoned so it could be placed into a land conservation easement). Overall, the actions provide a meaningful but property-specific benefit for data center development.

People behind it

  • Applicant and proposer of amendments to the County’s Solar Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan.

  • Applicant for the property rezonings and voluntary boundary adjustment associated with its data-center development.

  • Legislative body that introduced, adopted, and amended the County’s solar-tax ordinances.

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  • Applicants for a special exception permit allowing a second home.

  • Applicant for a special exception permit allowing a food truck.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3

  • Three Microsoft-owned parcels were rezoned from Agriculture to Industrial M-1 specifically to allow data centers. The rezoning followed a voluntary boundary adjustment placing the properties in the county.

  • The Board approved a voluntary boundary adjustment moving Microsoft-owned property, including a portion of High Street, outside Chase City’s town boundary and into the county.

  • The FY 2021–2022 budget increased the Industrial Stimulus Refund line item from $44,846,930 to $50,346,930, providing additional budgeted capacity for industrial incentives.

Sources

current law · County project: Six Burlington Industrial Properties LLC parcels near Burlington Drive in the Clarksville area (PRNs 8955, 8954, 35220, 35219, 39754, and 39753)
Approves Burlington Industrial Properties, LLC’s rezoning applications for PRNs 8954, 8955, 35219, 35220, 39753, and 39754, changing the properties from Business B-1 to Industrial M-1 to allow data-center construction, following separate public hearings with no public comments (February 10 minutes).Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors Minutes, February 10, 2025 — Burlington Industrial Properties, LLC PRN 8954, PRN 8955, PRN 35219, PRN 35220, PRN 39753 and PRN 39754 rezoning approvals

What this means

The County approved rezoning six parcels from business to industrial use to allow data center construction, enabling TecFusions to expand. The approvals carry ordinary site requirements, such as meeting road-access and stormwater rules, but add no special data-center restrictions (rezoning approvals and conditions).

People behind it

  • Applicant responsible for proposing the rezoning of six Burlington Drive parcels from Business B-1 to Industrial M-1 for data-center development and one parcel to Residential R-1A for duplex housing.

  • Company behind the Burlington Drive data-center expansion and the related workforce-housing proposal.

  • Co-applicant who proposed amending the zoning ordinance to allow truck pulls and demolition derbies by special-exception permit.

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  • Co-applicant who proposed amending the zoning ordinance to allow truck pulls and demolition derbies by special-exception permit.

  • Applicant responsible for proposing a special-exception permit for two recreational-vehicle sites.

  • Co-applicant for the special-exception permit allowing a second home on the same parcel.

  • Co-applicant for the special-exception permit allowing a second home on the same parcel.

  • Co-applicant who proposed rezoning agricultural property to Industrial M-1 for a small satellite concrete plant.

  • Co-applicant who proposed rezoning agricultural property to Industrial M-1 for a small satellite concrete plant.

  • Body that initiated the proposed solar-ordinance amendments and adopted Mecklenburg 2044 as the County's comprehensive plan.

  • Entity directed to review and recommend on the proposed solar-ordinance amendments and responsible for reviewing the Antlers Road Solar application.

  • Applicant responsible for submitting the Virginia Code § 15.2-2232 review request for the proposed Antlers Road solar facility.

  • Entity that requested relocation of three polling places through the General Registrar.

  • General Registrar who presented and administered the Electoral Board's polling-place relocation requests.

  • Requester of a proposed BEAD letter of support, although the agenda item was deleted.

  • Requester of a proposed BEAD letter of support, although the agenda item was deleted.

  • Broadband provider that requested a County letter endorsing its BEAD funding application.

  • Applicant whose BEAD funding application was endorsed through a County letter of support.

  • Charter Communications subsidiary that proposed the fifteen-year nonexclusive cable franchise agreement.

  • Parent company of Spectrum Southeast, LLC and the provider associated with the proposed cable franchise agreement.

  • Official directed to petition the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance for County membership and to administer related actions.

  • Official directed to petition the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance for County membership with the County Administrator.

  • Entity that developed and proposed the revised Fiscal Year 2026 employee pay plan.

  • Consultant selected to carry out the County's zoning and subdivision ordinance rewrite project.

  • Applicant who requested the revocable license allowing timbering-related access across County property.

  • Co-applicant who requested the revocable license allowing timbering-related access across County property.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements4

  • Data-center development must comply with the Industrial M-1 Zoning Ordinance for the rezoned parcels. (the developer would have to develop the property within the Industrial M-1 Zoning Ordinance)

  • The developer must meet VDOT standards for a commercial entrance before developing the site. (The developer must meet VDOT standards for a commercial entrance)

  • Before construction begins, the developer may be required to submit an erosion, sediment, and stormwater plan for approval. (may have to file an Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater plan for approval before any construction begins)

  • The developer may be required to obtain a Mecklenburg County land-disturbance permit. (The developer may be required to obtain a Mecklenburg County land disturbance permit)

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3

  • Six Burlington Drive parcels were rezoned from Business B-1 to Industrial M-1, expressly allowing construction of data centers. The projects remain subject to VDOT entrance standards, any required erosion, sediment, stormwater, and land-disturbance permits, and the Industrial M-1 zoning ordinance. rezone from Business B-1 to Industrial M-1 to allow for construction of data centers

  • An adjacent parcel was rezoned from Business B-1 to Residential R-1A to allow a second dwelling, providing site-adjacent rental housing for data-center workers. The owner must follow the R-1A ordinance, and the approval is limited to the stated second-dwelling use. provide more rental opportunities within the county

  • The Town of Clarksville agreed to provide 20,000 gallons per day of water and sewer service for the data-center projects. The Town also recommended that the company fund a feasibility study to determine additional utility capacity and infrastructure improvements needed for future expansion. agreed to provide 20,000 gallons per day of water and sewer

Sources

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