Little Rock, Arkansas – Pulaski County justices have delayed a final decision on proposed regulations that would place new restrictions on large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas of the county.
The Pulaski County Quorum Court discussed the proposed ordinance Tuesday night but did not move forward with a final vote. Instead, justices amended the measure to remove its emergency clause, making the meeting the first of three required readings before the ordinance can be approved.
The change means the proposal will now follow the county’s regular legislative process. Unless officials call an emergency meeting, the next reading is expected to take place during next month’s Quorum Court meeting.
The proposed regulations would treat large-scale data centers as heavy industrial uses. Developers seeking to build such facilities would therefore need to obtain a conditional use permit before moving forward with projects in unincorporated parts of Pulaski County.
The ordinance also calls for a 500-foot buffer between large-scale data centers and homes or residential lots. County officials are seeking additional review of several potential impacts associated with these facilities, including their demands for water and electricity.
Traffic, drainage and fire safety would also be examined under the proposed rules. The ordinance includes requirements addressing battery systems and noise as well.
Another provision would make developers responsible for paying the cost of outside experts hired by the county to evaluate the potential effects of a proposed data center. The intent is to give the county access to specialized expertise when reviewing projects that could have significant infrastructure or environmental impacts.
The proposal would also require developers to prepare plans for decommissioning their facilities. Financial assurance would be required to help cover potential future cleanup costs.
The debate has attracted particular attention because of the AVAIO data center project in Wrightsville. Construction on that project has already begun, adding another layer of concern for county leaders as they consider whether and how the new regulations could apply.
Residents who spoke during public comment expressed frustration over the development process and the existing project.
One resident told the Quorum Court, “You made a mistake approving the site plan without the input from the people in that community.”
Another resident said those attending the meeting were there because “they do not want a data center where they are.”
The comments reflect concerns from some residents about the location and potential effects of data center development. The proposed ordinance is designed to address a broad range of issues that can accompany large facilities, including infrastructure demand, traffic, noise, fire protection and future cleanup.
County leaders, however, also raised questions about the possibility of legal action if the ordinance is ultimately approved. The concern is tied in part to the fact that the AVAIO project has already broken ground.
Removing the emergency clause gives the county additional time to consider the measure before a final vote. The ordinance will need to go through the required readings before justices can make a final decision.
For now, no emergency meeting has been scheduled. That leaves next month’s regular Quorum Court meeting as the expected next step in the process.
The delay gives county officials and residents more time to examine the proposed regulations and consider how they could affect future data center projects in unincorporated Pulaski County.
At the center of the discussion is an effort to balance new development with concerns over the demands that large data centers can place on local infrastructure and surrounding communities. The proposed rules would establish specific requirements for developers while giving the county a formal process for reviewing issues such as water use, electricity demand, transportation, drainage, safety and noise.
The eventual decision could also have broader implications for how Pulaski County handles large-scale data center proposals in the future. For now, however, the vote remains pending, with another reading expected next month unless county leaders decide to schedule an emergency meeting.
