Planning Commission Meeting 7.23.2026

The Smyth County Planning Commission held a meeting on July 23, 2026, primarily addressing zoning and regulatory matters related to data centers. Although public comments on data centers were not entertained during this session due to a prior public hearing, the commission discussed recent actions by the Board of Supervisors, which unanimously approved repealing certain data processing facility regulations. The commission deliberated on proposed text amendments concerning data centers, including insights gained from a field trip to a jurisdiction with existing data centers. Ultimately, the commission voted to table further consideration of data center regulations and to send the matter back to the Board of Supervisors' ordinance committee for reevaluation and potential amendments based on citizen feedback and additional information. No new contracts, procurement decisions, or budget allocations were made during this meeting.