The Gainesville Planning Board of Appeals voted Tuesday in favor of a new data mining facility proposed for a small piece of land south of the airport.
A major concern previously expressed by the board was increased noise from the property, particularly as a new portion of the Highlands to Islands Trail is being constructed in the area.
After filing the matter on Feb. 14, the applicant returned to the board Tuesday with a new site plan.
These plans included planting hedges and trees around the property to create a sound barrier. The applicant claimed that the only noise coming from the facility was a light hum.
The board's decision to recommend approval of the facility will now go to the Gainesville City Council for a final vote.
Original article published on February 14th at 6am:
The Gainesville Planning Board of Appeals on Tuesday deferred a recommendation decision on a new data mining facility proposed for a small parcel of land south of the airport.
HadjPadj Technologies, LLC is proposing to house two covered data mining huts on a 1.37-acre site. The parcel is located at 1176 Palmore Drive, S.D., according to city documents. Applicant's disclosed use indicated that the facility was a high-performance computing server center processing large batches of data.
The data processed at the facility will be related to Bitcoin mining and market analysis to help other companies “develop more effective marketing strategies,” as stated in a Gainesville staff report. It has been reported.
of The two structures, each 20 feet long and 10 feet tall, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the applicant.
The main concerns expressed by the board and Gainesville planning staff centered on noise levels, as the Highlands to Islands trail is expected to run along Palmore Drive once completed.
Gainesville Parks and Recreation Director Kate Mattison expressed concern through a staff report, expressing concerns about further noise pollution in the area.
The applicant disputed the noise concerns at Tuesday's meeting, suggesting noise levels would be much lower than the board and staff anticipated. In addition, the applicant stated that it plans to plant trees in a buffer zone on the property to block sight lines where necessary and further reduce noise pollution.
The applicant also indicated to the board that he is a Gainesville native and that he plans to contract with a Gainesville-based company during the completion of the project to keep money in the local economy.
The Gainesville Planning Board of Appeals voted 3-2 to refer the item to its March 12 meeting.
Their stated reason was to give the applicant time for further consideration. A complete site plan that specifically includes landscaping details such as trees and shrubs added to the buffer zone.