The Fayetteville City Council adopted a revised Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendment on Oct. 26, establishing a conditional rezoning requirement for warehouse storage uses proposed as data centers. The revised amendment also clarifies how the UDO addresses unlisted uses, development density, permitted uses and nonconformities. Council found the amendment consistent with the City’s adopted comprehensive plan.

The UDO amendment will take effect on the date of the public hearing on the proposed data center moratorium, but only after that hearing has been held. The public hearing date has not been set. 

The amendment follows months of work by City staff, planning professionals and attorneys to develop a legally defensible ordinance framework for data centers and strengthen the City’s ability to review these proposals. The City conducted site visits of various data center scales and functions, gathered community feedback, considered professional recommendations and worked with outside counsel on revisions before presenting the amendment to Council. 

The conditional rezoning requirement establishes a defined review process for proposals for any warehouse use containing a data center. It gives the City a way to evaluate these proposals through rezoning applications and consider conditions tied to a proposed development. 

During the Oct. 19 special meeting, Council approved scheduling a public hearing on a proposed data center moratorium ordinance and directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance for Council’s consideration before the hearing takes place. 

More information about the proposed UDO amendments is available at FayettevilleNC.gov/UDOAmendments.