Multiple residents and an advocate for a county moratorium urged the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7 to extend a 100‑day pause on permitting new data centers in unincorporated DeKalb County, saying infrastructure and zoning rules require more public review.

Martha Gross, a commercial real‑estate broker and Brookhaven resident, told commissioners that data centers are a “noxious use” near neighborhoods unless sited and regulated carefully. She said the county must fix water and sewer infrastructure before permitting large data‑center projects and urged a new, specific zoning classification for data centers, with siting clustered away from residential communities.

Tommy T. Travis of the South DeKalb Coalition said the original moratorium, adopted after a July 8 discussion, was set for 100 days and will expire Oct. 16. “The moratorium needs to be extended,” Travis said, urging more public comment and time to craft a text amendment. He asked the board to place an extension on the next meeting agenda.

At the agenda review later in the meeting, the director of planning and sustainability walked on a public‑hearing item to extend the moratorium; the administration said the item was already advertised for public hearing. Commissioners directed the item to the appropriate committee (ops/public hearing process) for consideration.

Why it matters: Data centers are capital‑intensive, consume significant power and can require substantial water and utility infrastructure. Speakers cautioned that approving data centers before addressing water and sewer constraints could strain county systems and produce community impacts.

Next steps: The planning director’s public‑hearing request to extend the moratorium will appear on the county agenda for committee consideration; commissioners signaled they expect further public input and legal review before taking a final action.