The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Thursday delayed action on zoning regulations for data centers, voting 5-1-0 to schedule a vote on the day in December when an existing moratorium on the facilities expires.
County planners said they would be making minor changes to the amendment during the next month, in preparation for a vote during a morning meeting of the BOC on December 16.
The Thursday evening zoning meeting was interrupted several times by a few unruly opponents and police were asked to remove some of them from the room. At one point, Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, who was presiding, threatened to call a recess if the disruption did not end.
Speaking first among the opponents, Gina Mangham, representing Renew DeKalb, told commissioners "this will destroy South and East Dekalb, which are Black communities." "We need to prohibit these deadly things from coming up in our community," she said.
While speaking, Mangham waved a "white paper" which she said supported a complete prohibition of data centers. Other opponents of the rules said they supported such a ban.
During the discussion, Commissioner LaDena Bolton said the white paper was not supported by "reputable research institutions." "Without the moratorium, as of today, people can build what they want." she said.
Also speaking in opposition, NAACP DeKalb President Edwina Clanton said "we stand firmly against bringing data centers into DeKalb County."
"We want full transparency, we want a seat at the table and we want these facilities kept away from our residential neighbors," Clanton said.
Commissioner Ted Terry, who participated in the meeting electronically, asked for the Dec. 16 meeting to allow public comments. His proposal failed, it was not supported by any other commissioner.
Terry proposed a 500-foot buffer separating data centers from parks, trails and greenspaces. He also said a Special Land Use Permit should be required for all data centers. This would allow for public input at meetings of Community Councils (citizen review panels) and the Planning Commission and require the BOC to make a final decision.
Not everyone was critical of the zoning code amendment. Jim Smith, a member of the District 2 Community Council, called for the SLUP requirement "across the board." South DeKalb Coalition head Tommy Travis said "these regulations aren't perfect, but they are a start."
The vote to defer action on the rules was 5 to 1, with Terry voting against. Commissioner Robert Patrick did not attend the meeting.
The possibility was raised that the final vote on the regulations may not occur on Dec. 16, which is the last regularly scheduled commission meeting this year.
"We have made preparations for the moratorium to be heard on that day," County Zoning Administrator Rachel Bragg said. "So you could extend the moratorium at that time."
At the same meeting, commissioners voted 4-0-0 to defer action on three data centers, totaling 1,060,000 square feet, proposed along Loveless Pl. and Pineview Tr. in Ellenwood in South DeKalb. The vote was delayed until January 13, with no plans for a public hearing on that date.
County planners had recommended denial of the application. The 94-acre site currently could be developed with 204 single-family detached dwellings and 63 single-family townhomes.
Commissioner Nicole Massiah said she did not want to vote on any data-center applications until the new rules are in place.
