SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council voted Monday to impose a one-year moratorium on data center applications, using a legal mechanism to immediately freeze new projects without waiting for final approval.
The special meeting lasted less than five minutes and drew a room full of residents, many of whom were frustrated they were not allowed to speak on the moratorium. A public hearing will be held during the second reading, which has not yet been scheduled. The vote came less than 24 hours before the state’s primary runoffs, where council members Jack Mabry and Jessica Coker are up for re-election.
Council invoked the pending ordinance doctrine, which allows local governments to temporarily halt new applications after first reading without waiting for second or third readings.
Timing under scrutiny
The timing of the vote drew criticism from residents who say council has known about proposed data centers for months…