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Chesapeake City Council is pursuing new zoning ordinances to regulate future data center projects, which are currently permitted by-right under existing zoning. A memo indicates over 27,000 residentially zoned parcels are within 500 feet of potential data center sites without council approval.

Council members voted to direct planning staff to draft new ordinances that would require conditional use permits for data centers, allowing for case-by-case consideration. Planning Director Jimmy McNamara noted the need for extensive research, stakeholder discussions, and benchmarking against other cities.

The failed Etheridge Lakes Data Center proposal last June, which sought to convert agricultural land for a 350,000-square-foot facility, faced significant resident opposition due to health and environmental concerns. The council aims to ensure community input in future developments, while the potential financial benefits of data centers remain a consideration for local governments.