Image Credit: Project River & Canva.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
The family behind the proposed $11.3 billion “Project River” energy campus in Bradley County has said they will agree to certain building and maintenance requirements proposed by the City of Cleveland to help sate some community concerns and create accountability for present and future owners of the property.
Project River plans include an onsite power plant and potentially large data center which has been the primary source of community protest, though residents have also expressed concerns about other factors like property values, taxation, and environmental and health worries.
In response, the City of Cleveland has proposed Planned Unit of Development 77 (PUD 77) to address some of these concerns and place relatively rigorous safeguards around the construction and usage of the facility. If passed by the City Council, PUD 77 will be a city ordinance with the effect of the law, and will be “binding on the current owners, and any future owner or operator of the property.”
Several development guardrails are outlined in PUD 77, including rules that certain components of the complex sit away from roadsides or adjoining property lines. The data center would be required to be set at least 500 feet away from the property line and screened to shield it from view of public roads or neighboring properties, and the riverfront power plant must be 200 feet from the property line.
Other requirements include:
- Maintaining 20% of the parcel as green space
- An 85-foot maximum building height
- Completion of environmental studies before issuance of a data center permit
- Noise limitations: A maximum of 60 decibels at the property line with a city-approved noise mitigation plan and continual monitoring
- A city-approved lighting plan which will be reviewed annually for the first 5 years of the project
- Compliance with dust control and fire protection standards
- On site generation of 75% of all direct power used with a yearly sustainability report
- No direct utility connection to the Hiwassee River
- Restricting log trucks supplying the facility’s biomass materials from using any city streets or county roads
If a data center is developed, it will be subject to additional requirements related to stormwater, lighting, noise, heat, and emissions along with a bevy of studies and mitigation plans, with the city granted the authority to test for and enforce compliance during construction.
Developers will also be responsible for providing land and money for a new fire station, EMS facility, and police precinct, and for making infrastructure improvements such as traffic signals, turn lanes, and access points. The proposal would additionally require a Community Benefit Agreement providing support for local schools and infrastructure projects.
The Wright family, who owns the land and one of the lead developers on the project, has tentatively agreed to the PUD 77 terms subject to the final version, saying they are supportive of putting the project’s commitments into enforceable rules. They have maintained their projected $11.3 billion in investment and eventual creation of 900 permanent jobs will be of great benefit to the community.
“This PUD, which we have decided to accept, will hold us or any future owner of the property accountable for Project River,” Wright Industrial Group President Lukas Salyer said.
The finalized PUD 77 ordinance draft is expected to be published on Friday of this week, and the city’s Planning Commission will discuss Project River next Monday, but no voting or action will occur on the document until at least October to allow further time for review and public discussion, according to the city.
Sources:
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
Cleveland, Tennessee Government.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
2 Responses
Smart.
What good are building restrictions when you have NO WATER and NO POWER, which will be the result as they use an average of 5 MILLION gallons of water a day and an enormous amount of electricity. Why would anyone vote this atrocity into their area, when they get NO Benefit? Follow the Money!