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Zoning committee approves ordinance requiring special-use permits for data centers
Summary
The Atlanta City Council zoning committee voted 5-0 on May 28 to approve an ordinance that would require data centers in much of the city to seek special‑use permits addressing water and energy impacts.
The Atlanta City Council Zoning Committee voted 5-0 on May 28 to approve an ordinance that would require data centers in parts of the city to seek special‑use permits addressing water consumption, water conservation, energy consumption and other environmental considerations.
The ordinance, carried by Council member Susan Hillis and co‑sponsored by several council members including Matt Westmoreland and Jason Dozier, was taken as part of a block of items (2, 3, 4, 11 and 12) and approved by the committee after staff, Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) and Zoning Review Board (ZRB/CRB) recommendations of approval were announced. "I want to thank the planning staff and the law department and my colleagues for cosponsoring it," Hillis said, adding that her district and others have learned "the hard way" about the burdens data centers place on neighborhoods, the electric grid and the water system.
Council member Jason Dozier also supported the measure, saying the city is "leading the country in pushing back against data centers propping up in our cities" and that the ordinance puts "some more protection in place to serve our community." The committee approved the block after Dozier made the motion to approve and Hillis seconded; the vote was recorded as five ayes, zero nays.
Under the language presented to the committee, data centers (where not already restricted) would be required to obtain a special‑use permit and include in their application information intended to demonstrate how the project will address water and energy impacts and other environmental considerations. Staff, NPU and ZRB recommendations for the ordinance were reported as approval.
The committee’s action was limited to approval at the committee level; the transcript does not record any subsequent City Council final adoption or administrative implementation steps at this meeting.
Speakers quoted in this report appear in the committee record and are identified by name and role in the committee transcript.
