Caryville Planning Commission discusses data center zoning

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- The Caryville Planning Commission met yesterday afternoon with a light agenda.

First on the agenda was a subdivision plat approval creating two lots at Cove Circle, Cove Lake Estates, this item was withdrawn and will be resubmitted next month.

The commission then discussed data centers. Harold Edwards with East Tennessee Development District discussed with the commission the need to amend their zoning ordinance to define a data center. Edwards then discussed data centers being emerging technology that use a high volume of electricity and create a considerable amount of noise. Given these factors the location of possible centers needs to be restricted to industrial zones. Edwards will prepare an ordinance pertaining to the data centers and have it at next month’s meeting on April 2. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/06/2026-6AM)