NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville’s new restrictions on data center development may not fully address potential effects on nearby neighborhoods, according to a report released by Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office on Oct. 12. The assessment identifies unanswered questions about vibrations from equipment that runs around the clock, possible contaminants in wastewater from cooling systems and whether Metro has enough staff and resources to check that operators follow the rules. It also recommends examining the combined effects of multiple data centers in one area rather than reviewing each facility separately. Metro Council adopted the restrictions nearly three months before the report’s release, after months of community opposition that included a proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo. The rules limit where facilities can be built, set noise limits and prohibit the largest data center campuses. The report describes them as a strong starting point, while calling for more evaluation of potential environmental, infrastructure and neighborhood impacts. Noise standards do not address every concern raised in the assessment: Nashville’s rules do not require vibration-impact studies or set separate limits for vibration. The report also calls for a closer look at whether wastewater from cooling systems could carry pollutants not covered by current standards. Drew Small, who founded the neighborhood group No New Data Centers and helped organize opposition to the Zoo-area proposal, said the rules are a meaningful step but could be improved. “There’s a difference between good and great,” he said. Small said the city should consider independent monitoring, rather than relying only on data center operators to report their own compliance. “What’s the point of having a law if it’s not enforced?” he said. Metro Council member Jacob Kupin said uncertainty about long-term effects is a concern. He described the industry as rapidly changing, making oversight a moving target. O’Connell ordered the assessment through an executive order in June. Among its recommendations is a working group of Metro departments and utilities to coordinate oversight. The report’s findings put a focus on the next phase of the city’s policy: determining whether existing protections can be enforced effectively and whether they need to address impacts not covered by current rules.