The DeKalb County Planning Commission on Thursday recommended approval of an ordinance establishing regulations for data centers. The vote was 5-0-1 (one abstention).
During public comments, Jan Dunaway noted that distance requirements have been removed from the latest draft. She also said the amendment did not address water discharges. Gina Mangham and Jackie Malcom said the amendment made no consideration for health effects. Mangham suggested the amendment should not allow the largest data centers. Dale Thompson cited "environmental issues."
DeKalb County Senior Planner Tricia Prevost said the county's watershed management department had suggested the language used in the amendment, including a requirement that data center operators disclose effluents in advance. She said the county could not find any legal justification for separation requirements, including distance from another data center, without conducting a study.
"I don't believe that that is feasible," she said. "It would require a level of justification that we are not able to do at this time."
"We don't expect to make any major changes before the Board of Commissioners" zoning meeting on November 20, Prevost said.
Planning commissioner Jan Dunaway made the motion for approval. It was seconded by Ed Patton. Commissioner Winton Cooper abstained from voting. Planning staff had recommended approval of the ordinance.
In an email to consituents earlier in the day, Commissioner Ted Terry said he would ask for deferral of the amendment at the Nov. 20 BOC zoning meeting.
"Unfortunately, due to timing, the previously scheduled Town Hall hosted by Super District 7 Commissioner Bolton and I [sic] has been cancelled. I will advocate for a deferral of the draft regulations item with the hopes a Town Hall can occur that will be primarily for your questions. Your input is critical and your questions deserve to be answered with care and attention," Terry wrote.
