A state circuit court judge Thursday punted a decision on whether construction of the proposed $3 billion Valara data center in Spartanburg can be completed.
The central question is whether the Valara project is a major or minor development. The answer will determine whether decisions can be made by county planning staff or would require public hearings.
If Valara is determined to be a minor development, county staff could make decisions in the review process. If major, review processes would require public hearings through the County Planning Commission.
Construction on the Valara site, which has already begun, continues while the court considers what to do. Last month, the state Public Service Commission dismissed a legal challenge by the Southern Environmental Law Center that argued the site was a power plant.
Other lawsuits seek to halt the construction of the project altogether.
The Valara project is separate from the stalled Lighthouse data center project, which the County Planning Commission voted last month to halt.
The Spartanburg County Council is expected to discuss the Valara project next week.
