Gates County boards set hearings on housing, cell tower, and data center rules
Gates County's Board of Adjustment and Planning Board each convened in late July to take up land-use matters, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions. Based on the available agendas, the meetings were scheduled to consider two special use permits and a draft ordinance governing data centers. No decisions are confirmed in the records provided.
Board of Adjustment: Two special use permits on the table
The Gates County Board of Adjustment met July 21, 2026, to hold public hearings on two special use permit applications. The agenda listed:
- **SUP202607-01** — a request for a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit at 80 White Oak Road.
- **SUP202607-02** — a request for a 195-foot wireless telecommunication facility at 462 Medical Center Road.
The board was scheduled to decide whether each proposed project meets local zoning requirements. Because only the agenda is available and minutes have not yet been published, the outcome of either permit application is not yet recorded.
Planning Board: Draft data center ordinance under review
The Gates County Planning Board held a special meeting July 22, 2026, to review a draft ordinance addressing data centers. Agenda items included:
- Review of the draft data center ordinance.
- Board direction on scheduling public engagement for the ordinance.
The agenda noted that no new business was scheduled beyond the ordinance discussion. As with the Board of Adjustment, minutes have not been published, so any board direction taken at the meeting is not yet reflected in the available record.
What this means for residents
The special use permits at 80 White Oak Road and 462 Medical Center Road, if approved, would allow new construction in those locations — a detached accessory dwelling and a 195-foot cell tower, respectively. The data center ordinance, if eventually adopted, would establish local rules for how data centers can operate in Gates County. Residents interested in the ordinance will have a chance to weigh in during public engagement, though no dates for that engagement have been confirmed in the records provided.
Coming up
No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents seeking updates on the special use permits or the data center ordinance should watch for published minutes from the July 21 and July 22 meetings, which have not yet been released.