TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Dr. Douglas Hewett, City Manager
FROM: Dr. Andrew Mansell, Senior Assistant to the City Manager
DATE: August 3, 2026
RE:Title
Data Center Educational Presentations: Dr. Ben Rachunok (NC State University), David Payne (NC Department of Environmental Quality), and Clarence Briggs (Advanced Internet Technologies, Inc.)
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
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Relationship To Strategic Plan:
This item supports the Strategic Plan goal of a Diverse and Viable Economy by ensuring land use policy for data centers is informed by independent research, state regulatory expertise, and local industry experience.
Executive Summary:
As part of Council's educational process on data centers, three presenters will address Council: Dr. Ben Rachunok of North Carolina State University, who leads the statewide data center study funded by the North Carolina General Assembly; David Payne, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Economic Development at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ); and Clarence Briggs, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fayetteville-based Advanced Internet Technologies, Inc. (AIT). Together the presentations provide academic, state regulatory, and local industry perspectives ahead of the August 25, 2026 expiration of the 120-day stay on the draft data center text amendments. No action is requested.
Background:
In February 2026, staff presented proposed text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) introducing data centers as a distinct land use. Council discussed the amendments at a March work session and in April approved a 120-day stay to allow additional study before considering any ordinance changes. Since then, Council Members and staff have toured operating facilities, including AIT's downtown Fayetteville facility and data centers in the Raleigh area, and a site visit to hyperscale facilities in Loudoun County, Virgini...
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