Spartanburg County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Spartanburg County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Data Center Development Moratorium
Three development agreements are headed through the process: a high-performance computing center on S. Pine Street and data centers on Tyger River Industrial Drive and near Jones Road (~137 acres). These deals shape where large industrial-tech facilities land and what the county gets in return.
Front Setback and Bufferyard Variances for Chavez Property
The owner of the Chavez Property at 2034 Chesnee Highway Unit C is requesting two variances: a 39-foot reduction in the front setback from a minor road and a reduction in the left-side bufferyard requirement.
Residential subdivision growth across Districts 1–6
More than two dozen subdivision and final plat items were on the agenda, covering new neighborhoods and phases across most council districts. These approvals shape where new homes, roads and infrastructure will go.
Joint Government Center Construction
Spartanburg just hoisted the final beam onto its brand-new joint government center. This shared space is designed to make local services way easier and faster to access for everyone living in the area.
Valara Data Center Air Emissions and Public Health
Residents and environmental attorneys raised concerns that the proposed Valara data center's natural gas generators could emit harmful levels of formaldehyde and fine particulate matter. The developer countered that the project will fully comply with state environmental permits and utilize advanced emissions controls.
Homeless Shelter
Spartanburg is exploring the creation of a new low-barrier homeless shelter to provide immediate resources and housing support for individuals currently living without shelter. This initiative aims to address chronic unsheltered homelessness by expanding city-backed services.
Cybersecurity Incident
Spartanburg County is dealing with a sudden tech outage and bringing in cyber experts to fix it. You can expect some delays and hiccups when trying to use county services right now.