Greene County understands the questions and concerns being raised about possible data center development at the Burnette Road Industrial Site. We would like to provide some clarity about where things stand today.
As of today, there is NO pending or submitted building permit application for a data center at Burnette Road or anywhere else in Greene County.
The Burnette Road property remains available and continues to be actively marketed for industrial development.
Greene County has done significant work to prepare Burnette Road for industrial development and recruit new investment to our community. That work includes professional environmental, archaeological, and historical studies of the property. We have invested in this due diligence so we understand the land, its surroundings, and the issues that must be considered as development opportunities move forward. As questions and concerns are raised, Greene County will continue to rely on documented studies, professional review, and the facts when making decisions about the future of this property.
Greene County developed the Burnette Road Industrial Site for a clear purpose: to attract major new investment, create jobs, grow our tax base, and strengthen our local economy. New taxable investment grows the tax base that supports county services. A stronger tax base can help reduce the pressure on homeowners, farmers, and businesses that are already here to carry the cost of those services.
Burnette Road is one of Greene County’s strongest opportunities for industrial growth. With its size, location near Interstate 587, and access to important infrastructure, Greene County has invested significant time and resources into preparing and marketing the property.
That work is getting attention, and that is a good thing. We want companies looking at Greene County. That is why we invest in quality industrial sites and market them for new opportunities.
Interest in the property, however, is not permission to build.
We also want to address concerns about the cemeteries on the property. The archaeological and historical work completed at Burnette Road identified and documented the cemeteries, and that information was reported to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. The State Historic Preservation Office is aware of their locations and has recommended a protective buffer of approximately 100 feet around them. The County intends to respect those protective areas as planning continues.
Any data center or other major industrial development considered at Burnette Road or elsewhere in Greene County will be carefully evaluated for its impact on our community. That includes water and electricity needs, roads and infrastructure, nearby homes and farms, environmental impacts, jobs, investment, and the long term impact on Greene County.
Major new development can also require major new infrastructure. Greene County will carefully consider those needs, who benefits from the improvements, how they should be funded, and the potential impact on existing residents and businesses. Our goal is to attract new investment without placing an unreasonable burden on the people who already live, farm, work, and do business here.
We will also continue to review our development regulations and County codes to make sure they appropriately address changing development needs while protecting the interests of our community.
As development proposals move forward, Greene County will follow the review, notice, hearing, and approval requirements of North Carolina law that apply to each decision.
At the end of the day, development needs to make sense for Greene County and the people who call it home.
Greene County can welcome new technology, responsible investment, and good jobs while protecting our water, infrastructure, taxpayers, and quality of life. Those goals should go hand in hand as we plan for Greene County’s future.
