Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Union County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
8 issues in zoning
Data Centers and Cryptomining Regulations
Union County now has real rules for data centers and cryptomining: they're limited to heavy industrial zones with special permits, bigger setbacks from homes, noise baselines and a 12-month teardown rule for abandoned sites. The county can't ban them outright under state law, so this shapes where and how they can be built.
Minor Subdivision Definition and Applicability
Splitting a parcel with a road used to let landowners multiply the number of lots they could create without a major subdivision — Commissioner Baucom noted one two-road parcel could have yielded up to 24 houses. Now the 8-lot cap applies to the original tract.
Variance Request for Undersized Residential Lot on Richardson Road
Augustine Properties requested a variance to build a single-family home on a half-acre lot that was previously split without going through formal subdivision approval. Neighbors and board members raised concerns that granting the variance would violate lot size rules and set a precedent for higher density or future subdivision of surrounding farmland.
Light Industrial Rezoning along U.S. 601
Randall York requested a rezoning of 26 acres along U.S. 601 from RA-40 to Light Industrial after withdrawing a previous heavy industrial proposal. The applicant intends to use the site to store equipment and build a workshop, while addressing existing code issues on the property.
Claude Austin Road Variance Request
A property owner requested a lot size variance after state road right-of-way expansions left their front parcel slightly below minimum area requirements, preventing them from replacing an aging family manufactured home.
York Heavy Industrial Rezoning Request
An applicant requested a straight rezoning of 26 acres along US 601 from residential-agricultural to heavy industrial. Neighbors and planning staff highlighted severe code enforcement concerns, unpermitted dumping, and environmental encroachment into flood zones.
Beulah Church Road Commercial Operating Hours
A developer requested longer operating hours (6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) for an approved shopping center parcel at Beulah Church and Waxhaw Indian Trail roads. Nearby homeowners expressed worries about early morning noise, lighting, and increased traffic from potential tenants like coffee shops and clinics. The board recommended approval after adding strict rules for solid sound-barrier walls and daytime-only dumpster pickup.
House of Pearls Residential Recovery Facility Rezoning
The House of Pearls is seeking a conditional rezoning on Camden Road to build a faith-based residential drug rehabilitation campus for up to 80 women. Supporters and graduates shared powerful personal testimony about how the program saves lives from addiction, while the board evaluated land use consistency and master plan development standards.