Letter To City of Fayetteville Regarding Data Centers

July 15, 2026
Mr. Doug Hewett, City Manager 433 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

RE: Data Centers

Dear Mr. Hewett:

I have been asked by the Eastover, North Carolina Town Council as Town Attorney to write you concerning recent concerns that have been brought to its attention by numerous residents of the community. Apparently, a preapplication was filed with the City of Fayetteville in September 2025 concerning the siting of a large data center on Custer Road. This area is located in an unincorporated section of Cumberland County, but for all practical purposes is a part of a larger Eastover Community. The City of Fayetteville through PWC owns an electrical facility in acreage on Custer Road. This property was a satellite annexation into the City of Fayetteville.

Many residents of the community are concerned that the City of Fayetteville intends to annex tracts of land in this area and allow the placement of one or more data centers. There are many ways in which the community sees these centers as a tremendous detriment including noise, traffic, light pollution, water use and electricity use. The Council hopes that the City of Fayetteville would not design to allow placement of such facilities in these areas which are only nominally connected to the City of Fayetteville proper.

The Town Council of Eastover hereby strongly registers the Town’s objection to boot strapping satellite annexations and more particularly and especially placement of such data centers in this area. The Town strongly feels that such a decision by the City of Fayetteville would unduly burden the Town and the Eastover Community, with any derived benefits inuring only to the City of Fayetteville. It is hoped that the City of Fayetteville will take the strong objections of the Town and the Eastover Community into serious consideration prior to proceeding in this direction.

Sincerely,

McGEACHY, HUDSON & ZURAVEL

Donald C. Hudson Attorney at Law DCH: bc