DeKalb County’s Board of Commissioners on Tuesday extended a temporary moratorium on permitting new data centers, approved a contested rezoning in east DeKalb for a 28–32‑unit housing project, and authorized transfer of 26 county‑owned parcels to the county’s land bank — while county staff briefed the public and prospective suppliers on local small‑business certification and licensing requirements.

The board voted to extend a countywide moratorium on the permitting or expansion of data centers in unincorporated DeKalb through Dec. 16, 2025. Planning staff recommended the extension to allow the county time to finish proposed regulations and hold further public input; commissioners and public speakers said they want additional safeguards on noise, water use and community review.

The board also approved a rezoning application to redevelop wooded lots on Glenwood Road into a mix of single‑family detached and attached homes. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions; the final approval included a limit on the number of dwelling units, requirements for open space and park completion, and transportation and sidewalk improvements required by the county transportation department. Neighbors who spoke in favor said the developer adjusted plans after repeated community meetings; at least one nearby resident pressed for a lower density and more community input.

Separately the board voted to transfer 26 county‑owned parcels — a mix of vacant lots and a small number of parcels with existing structures — to the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority for disposition and redevelopment. County officials said the parcels were selected from the county’s inventory of tax‑delinquent or vacant properties, with the goal of returning usable land to the tax rolls and creating opportunities for housing and neighborhood rehabilitation.

During a county business‑resources presentation, procurement and small‑business staff described the Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE) certification, a supplier academy planned for October, and the county’s process for certifying vendors. Staff urged businesses to register their NIGP classification codes, complete SAM registration when applicable, and use a PO box or virtual address if they wish to avoid publishing personal home addresses. County licensing staff also reviewed the local business‑license process: applicants must apply to DeKalb County if they operate in the unincorporated county, even if they are registered with the Georgia Secretary of State.

The meeting opened with the proclamation marking October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Jean Douglas, executive director of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, recounted the center’s history and said DeKalb has the highest number of domestic‑violence fatalities in Georgia for the most recent period reported.

What the board approved and deferred
- Extension of the data‑center moratorium to Dec. 16, 2025, to allow completion of proposed guardrails and additional public hearings. Planning staff said the draft rules would require special‑land‑use review for proposed data centers and set buffers, noise, and water‑use requirements. The board approved the extension.
- Approval of a Glenwood Road rezoning for a townhouse/attached‑and‑detached housing project, subject to four conditions: a mix of housing types, a maximum unit count (the applicant and board corrected the permitted maximum during the meeting), at least 20% maintained open space (excluding streams/floodplain), required transportation improvements, and park/outdoor recreation areas completed prior to occupancy. Planning staff supported approval with conditions; the board approved the rezoning.
- Transfer of 26 county parcels to the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority for disposition and reuse, a move county staff and commissioners said will help return properties to productive use and the tax rolls. Director Mitchell described vetting of parcels and the land bank’s role; commissioners noted the parcels span multiple commission districts.
- Start of a 90‑day traffic‑calming petition process for Darrell Drive (Darrell Drive between Columbia Drive and Glenwood Road); neighborhood speakers described repeated crashes and heavy cut‑through traffic and supported speed humps and a petition.
- Allocation and study steps toward a community land trust: commissioners approved moving forward with a feasibility study and other steps to investigate a DeKalb community land trust; chief housing staff and community advocates said the study would explore models to preserve long‑term affordability.

Public comment and neighborhood concerns
Residents and advocates used public comment to press the board on a range of local topics. Several speakers urged the county to keep the data‑center moratorium in place and demanded strict rules for large, high‑power campuses. Neighbors near PDK called for careful review of a private hanger/aviation project and the county’s ongoing environmental‑noise study. Residents affected by the Glenwood Road project described both support for cleaning up a long‑neglected wooded site and continuing concerns about density and traffic.

Next steps and administration commitments
Planning staff said draft data‑center regulations would proceed through community council meetings, the planning commission and a future board hearing; county staff urged residents to attend a town hall and the upcoming planning meetings. Procurement and LSBE staff said they will provide an electronic LSBE directory, expand training including short “procurement 101” micro‑trainings, and circulate Supplier Academy flyers and registration information. Chief housing staff said the land‑trust feasibility work would be coordinated by the newly established chief housing officer’s office and through standard procurement to select consultants.

Votes at a glance
- Planning item (data‑center moratorium), 20‑25‑12‑28: motion to extend moratorium through Dec. 16, 2025 — APPROVED. (Staff recommendation: approve extension.)
- Rezoning (Glenwood Road), 20‑25‑0‑6‑27: motion to approve rezone with conditions (maximum units, open space, transportation/sidewalk dedications, and park completion) — APPROVED.
- Traffic calming petition (Darrell Drive), 20‑25‑13‑28: motion to begin the 90‑day petition process for traffic calming — APPROVED.
- Transfer of county‑owned parcels to DeKalb Regional Land Bank, item 20‑25‑0‑4‑31 (substitute): motion to declare selected county parcels surplus and convey county interest to the land bank (26 parcels) — APPROVED.
- Community land trust feasibility/authorization (item 20‑25‑15‑64): motion to move forward with funding and study steps for a DeKalb community land trust — APPROVED.
- Proclamation: October recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in DeKalb County — READ INTO RECORD / PROCLAIMED.

Who said what (selected)
- Presiding Officer Michelle Long Spears (District 2 commissioner) opened the meeting, read and signed the proclamation recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and led parts of the business agenda.
- Lorraine Cochran Johnson, chief executive officer, participated in the proclamation presentation and was cited by staff as an administrative leader in several initiatives discussed at the meeting.
- Jean Douglas, executive director, Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, described the center’s nearly 40‑year history and said DeKalb recently recorded the highest number of domestic‑violence fatalities in Georgia in the most recent data she cited.
- Victor Botero, applicant representative, presented the Glenwood Road rezoning application and described revisions made after community meetings.
- Planning staff (Bragg) recommended the rezoning approval with conditions and read the required conditions into the record.
- Director Mitchell (Community Development) summarized the land‑bank suitables and said 26 parcels were chosen after vetting; commissioners thanked land‑bank staff for the work.
- Multiple residents and community organizers (Ethan Williams, Edward Alston, Aaron Vincent, Nader Osmond, Peter Perozi and others) participated in public comment on data centers, the Glenwood rezoning and traffic calming.

What was not decided or remains pending
- Draft data‑center regulations will return to the board after further community workshops, planning hearings and a scheduled town hall; commissioners asked the law department to clarify what legal remedies the county has for permanent bans versus regulatory guardrails.
- Procurement staff said individual contract awards and budget appropriations for initiatives described by the CEO will come back to the board in specific appropriation requests.

Why it matters
DeKalb’s actions reflect several county priorities: protecting neighborhoods from rapid land‑use changes while updating zoning and procurement to reflect new industries, returning vacant properties to productive use, and expanding access to contracting opportunities for certified local small businesses. The moratorium extension signals broad caution about large‑scale data‑center development near residential neighborhoods; the land‑bank transfers and the community land‑trust feasibility study represent steps toward producing and preserving affordable housing.

Looking ahead
Residents and stakeholders should expect more public meetings on proposed data‑center regulations, a town hall hosted by planning staff and future committee stops for items that were deferred for additional review. Procurement staff said LSBE resources and Supplier Academy registration materials will be circulated to attendees and posted on the county website.

Ending note
The board reconvened its business agenda after a lunch recess and completed several consent and contract items. Early voting for fall elections also opened while the meeting was in progress; commissioners and staff encouraged residents to vote.