KNOX COUNTY, TENN. — The Knox County Commission is set to debate a resolution at its meeting Monday at 5 p.m. that would amend the county's zoning ordinance to impose new requirements and restrictions on data center development. Commissioners Andy Fox, Angela Russell, Rhonda Lee and Adam Thompson requested the resolution.

The proposed amendment would cap data center height at 65 feet and prohibit the facilities from being built within 300 feet of a residential zoning district. It would also bar data centers from locating near schools, daycare centers, in-home daycares, long-term care facilities, retirement and nursing homes, community centers, places of worship, parks, campgrounds, prisons and dormitories.

Under the proposal, data centers would be prohibited from using public water supplies and the electric grid. Data centers require large amounts of electricity, placing additional demand on regional power grids.

The amendment would require operators to plant native trees and bushes as a buffer around the facilities. It would also require each data center to conduct a sound study, and operating hours would be limited based on sound levels.

Operators would be required to submit an Emergency Response Plan for review by local fire departments and emergency management services. The amendment would also require data centers to ensure that all first responders receive adequate training specific to the installed system.

A data center facing a road or an existing residential use would be required to incorporate one of three architectural styles: art deco, neoclassical or Greek revival. The architectural requirement would apply regardless of whether the adjacent property is zoned or actively used for residential purposes.