Controversial Rezoning Proposal in Walnut Cove Sparks Community Outcry
The proposal to rezone land for a data center in Walnut Cove, Stokes County, has ignited significant opposition from local residents, environmentalists, and historians. The county commissioners are expected to cast their votes on this contentious issue Monday evening.
Driving through the rural landscape of Stokes County, historian Martha Hartley gestures towards the expansive fields and surrounding forests. “I just want you to see where it is,” she remarks, highlighting the pastoral beauty of the area.
This land, now under consideration for industrial use, holds historical importance. The site was inhabited by the Saura People in the 1600s, with archaeological activities in the 1970s uncovering graves in the nearby floodplain. “There are things that were not excavated, and certainly probably hundreds more burials,” Hartley explains, emphasizing its sacred nature.
Additionally, remnants of the Saura Town Plantation, where enslaved individuals once labored, are situated nearby. Many descendants of these enslaved people still reside in the region, reinforcing the site’s cultural significance. “A rezoning from farming to heavy industry is incompatible with this history. It destroys the value of this property as what it is, a place of significance,” Hartley asserts.
This historical and cultural context fuels the resistance against the rezoning. Thousands of locals have signed a petition against the proposal, with Bill Petree, a lifelong resident of Walnut Cove, playing a pivotal role in rallying support. “We had to fight fracking. We won that,” Petree says. “We had to fight a chip mill. And we won that. And now we’re fighting this.”
The land’s appeal to developers is undeniable. The rural setting, with minimal existing structures, is strategically positioned near Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Power Station. ELS, the company behind the proposal, argues that the data center could bring substantial economic benefits, estimating a $20 million annual tax impact.
In response to community concerns, ELS held a public meeting in November to address feedback. CEO Drew Nations stated the company is adjusting its plans, including noise reduction measures and a water-efficient cooling system. However, Nations did not specifically address the burial sites linked to enslaved individuals on the property.
Despite these efforts, apprehensions persist within the community. “We don’t need this kind of change that is going to be so disruptive to the landscape and the citizens,” Petree emphasizes. “The county commissioners are elected to represent the citizens. They’re not elected to represent developers from Charlotte.”
The Stokes County Board of Commissioners will deliberate on the rezoning request at their meeting scheduled for Monday night at 6 p.m.
