LOWNDES COUNTY, GA — Dozens of residents filled the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners chambers to voice concerns about noise, light pollution, water use and energy demand from a potential data center development.
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"Noise, light pollution, water abuse, overuse of electricity—all of those are very concerning to me."
That's how one neighbor summed up their concerns as dozens packed into the the Lowndes County Commission chambers Monday night to speak against a proposed data center project in Lowndes County.
Rows of seats were filled, and neighbors stood along the walls as community members lined up one-by-one to voice concerns.
For many, the biggest question was simple: what would a large-scale data center mean for the neighborhoods around it?
Neighbors said they were concerned about noise from cooling systems, increased energy demand, water use, and bright lighting that could change the character of nearby communities.
Dr. Susan Wehling says the issue goes beyond infrastructure. It's about fairness for the people who already live there.
"We always put the property owner and the landowner as having all the rights and the rest of us who live in the surrounding area as not having those rights, and I think that's not healthy for a democracy and a happy community," Wehling said.
For some neighbors, the potential development isn't just a theoretical concern. It could affect major life decisions.
Neighbor Joel Dion says he is weighing whether to purchase a home in the Foxborough subdivision after losing his previous home during Hurricane Helene.
"Next month I'm supposed to be purchasing that house from the person who owns it. Obviously, a data center going in is...making me question that," Dion said.
The question many neighbors raised: how do you balance economic development with protecting the communities already here?
Commissioners heard hours of public comment as the conversation around data centers and their potential impact continues to grow across Lowndes County.
County leaders say discussions are still ongoing, with more review and community input expected before any final decisions move forward.
What has actually been approved:
It is important to note that the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners has stressed that no data center project has been approved at this time.
On July 8, 2025, commissioners voted to rezone approximately 719 acres known as REZ-2025-11 on Coleman Road from C-C (Crossroads Commercial) and CON (Conservation District) to M-1 (Light Manufacturing) and CON.
The approval includes seven specific conditions designed to protect surrounding neighborhoods and guide any future development on the site.
Those conditions include:
- No vehicle access from the property to Briarberry Drive or Quail Hollow Circle.
- If a future change in use requires upgrades to transportation or water and sewer infrastructure, the developer must pay for the design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction of those improvements.
- All lots created on the property must front interior roads rather than existing neighborhood streets.
- A 200-foot undisturbed buffer must be maintained along the northern and southern property lines where the site abuts existing residential zoning districts.
- Any lighting on the property must be shielded and directed so that it does not directly illuminate adjacent residential properties.
- Any loudspeakers, paging systems, or electromagnetic interference generated on the site must be designed and operated so they are not discernible at the property line of any adjoining residentially zoned property.
- Correctional facilities, transitional care facilities, and kennels with outdoor runs are prohibited on the property.
What the rezoning means for a potential data center
Under Lowndes County's Unified Land Development Code, data centers are allowed in seven different zoning districts, including certain manufacturing classifications such as M-1.
The new zoning on Coleman Road therefore makes a data center one possible future use of the site — but county officials emphasize that the rezoning is not an automatic approval for any such project.
Any data center large enough to have regional impacts would be subject to the state's Development of Regional Impact process. These are large-scale projects reviewed for their potential effects beyond the boundaries of the local jurisdiction, taking into account both positive and negative impacts.
County officials note that even for properly zoned property, additional conditions related to buffers, setbacks, water consumption and discharge, traffic, noise, electricity, drainage, and other impacts can be imposed before any project moves forward or permits are issued.
What comes next
For any company interested in siting a data center on a parcel with appropriate zoning, the next step would be to meet with the county's Technical Review Committee. The TRC is made up of state and county staff from departments directly involved in the development process, including health, utilities, planning and zoning, permitting and inspections, engineering, fire and rescue, and others.
During a TRC meeting, staff discuss issues such as water usage and discharge, required buffers and setbacks, land disturbance and site design, and noise, lighting, and other operational impacts. Although the TRC is a staff-led process, members of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners frequently attend to monitor communications and staff guidance.
County working on data center-specific rules
Lowndes County does not currently have an ordinance tailored specifically to data centers beyond its general standards for light manufacturing. County leaders say those general standards are not sufficient on their own.
Commissioners have directed staff to research best practices and lessons learned from other Georgia communities that have seen both positive and negative impacts from data centers. That work includes gathering information from other counties and cities with data center experience, consulting with the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, holding discussions with elected officials in other jurisdictions, planning site visits to operating data center projects, and reviewing ordinances adopted elsewhere to address data center-related challenges.
County officials stress that meeting with the TRC before a new, data center-specific ordinance is adopted would not guarantee approval of any project. The absence of a specific ordinance does not mean a data center would automatically be permitted.
No final decision has been made either to welcome or to prohibit data centers in Lowndes County.
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