Planning Commission adopts text amendment to UDO to address laboratory animal breeding and to create a Technology Park Overlay for data centers

The Planning Commission approved proposed text amendments to the Paulding County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that (1) remove laboratory animal breeding uses from A‑1, ER, R‑1 and R‑2 districts and reclassify breeding of laboratory animals as a use requiring a special‑use permit in business/agricultural districts, and (2) create a new Technology Park Overlay District that establishes rules and standards for data centers and related uses.

Community Development Director Anne Littman summarized the changes, saying the animal‑breeding change is a cleanup prompted by NAICS classifications that include laboratory animal breeding; the rewrite would move such uses into the Agricultural/Business district as special‑use permit items and add a parking standard for the use.

On data centers, staff proposed a Technology Park Overlay covering approximately 995 acres (12 specific parcels identified in the draft) with strict controls: a 75‑foot building height limit, a minimum 100‑foot undisturbed buffer beyond normal setbacks, architectural and security design standards, parking and sound‑mitigation standards, and a requirement that applicants provide letters from water and electric utility providers before land‑disturbance permits are approved. The overlay would also allow private roads under defined circumstances and exempt portions of the standard Corridor Overlay where buildings are not visible from the roadway.

Attorney Brandon Bowen, who has drafted similar ordinances for other jurisdictions, spoke in support of the text amendment and explained that data centers typically generate significant tax revenue, relatively low traffic and that modern designs avoid continuous generator operation (addressing noise concerns). Bowen called data centers a potential economic development opportunity if placed with appropriate safeguards. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt the amendment with a 6–0–1 vote and forwarded the ordinance to the Board of Commissioners for final adoption.