Public presses county for details on proposed Trammell Crow data center buildout

Susan Warren, a resident of Appling, used public comment time at the Aug. 5 meeting to press county officials for detailed information about a large data-center project proposed by Trammell Crow and discussed recently by the Columbia County Economic Development Authority (EDA). Warren said the EDA purchased more than 1,600 acres for about $28 million with a locally financed bank loan and that a 324-acre option remained unexercised as of the date of the meeting. Warren cited public materials that showed an illustrative buildout of roughly $11.6 billion and projected annual tax revenue of about $118 million at full buildout, and she warned those numbers would take many years to realize. She noted Columbia County school board receives 65% of tax revenue and the county 35%, and she quoted differing public timelines — from two years to 20–30 years — for buildout, observing the project’s benefits would likely phase in as individual buildings and end-users buy and develop parcels. Warren also asked whether tax incentives might be sought, noting that in 2024 data centers in Georgia received incentive packages totaling roughly $105 million. She said the county’s DRI (Development of Regional Impact) final report was published May 7 while the Planning Commission meeting on the project occurred May 1 and that the Planning Commission allotted only about eight minutes of public comment on May 1. Warren asked for greater transparency on ownership, purchase terms and the timeline for when tax revenue would materialize. County staff present at the meeting were cited by Warren as having discussed the project and said final terms with end users would be negotiated later, with Trammell Crow acting as an intermediary. The board took no immediate action addressing the financial questions during the Aug. 5 meeting.