Shift in Stokes County Concerns Amid Data Center Debate
The conversation surrounding a proposed data center in Walnut Cove has prompted a noticeable shift in priorities for residents of Stokes County. According to recent findings from the county’s annual citizen satisfaction survey, zoning issues are now a more pressing concern.
The survey revealed that nearly 33% of the participants identified land use as one of the county’s most significant issues, marking an increase from 25% the previous year. This change underscores growing apprehensions about zoning regulations in the wake of discussions about the data center.
County Manager Jeff Sanborn addressed the county commissioners on Monday, highlighting that satisfaction levels with zoning regulations and enforcement have dipped. He remarked, “This is obviously a result of the public discourse regarding the data center rezoning.”
Despite these shifts in zoning concerns, the general sentiment about the county remains relatively positive. Approximately 39% of survey respondents believe that Stokes County is progressing in the right direction, a slight decrease of two percentage points from last year. Furthermore, a significant majority, about 90%, rated the county as a good or excellent place to reside.
