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Newton County commission objects to Covington annexation tied to proposed Gregory Road data center
Summary
The Newton County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution objecting to a City of Covington annexation that would allow a planned data center campus; commissioners cited water, transportation and land‑use conflicts and voted 3–1 with one abstention to initiate dispute procedures under Georgia law.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted to object to the City of Covington’s proposed annexation of about 520.5 acres along Gregory Road on Tuesday, citing land‑use, water and transportation impacts tied to a proposed data‑center campus.
County attorney Patrick Jogstetter told commissioners the developer’s application would rezone roughly 213 acres to industrial (M‑2) for a possible single tenant campus of up to 1,410,000 square feet and leave about 307.5 acres as estate lots. “Data centers are heavy water users,” Jogstetter said, and staff estimated the project could generate about 360,000 gallons per day of discharge depending on cooling and recirculation choices.
The county resolution argues the rezoning and proposed density represent “a substantial change in intensity” for land designated in the county comprehensive plan’s conservation and recreation and live‑work corridor areas, would introduce M‑2 industrial uses not authorized by county policy and could shift infrastructure costs to the county if the property is annexed and removed from county permitting and impact fees.
Why it matters: County staff warned the annexation could require upgrades to Gregory Road — portions of which do not meet county standards — and might force acquisition of additional right‑of‑way to handle truck and service traffic. The resolution also notes the county would be unable to collect its recently revised impact fees for development inside city limits; staff estimated a low‑end impact‑fee loss of about $255,000 for the industrial portion and $94,000 for the residential portion.
At Tuesday’s meeting, several residents and speakers urged caution. Star Smith, who identified herself as a Gregory Road resident, told the board the project “would replace that promise with an industrial zone. It would cut off Gregory Road, bring constant noise, light pollution, heavy traffic, and 24‑7 operation.”
After discussion the board moved to adopt a resolution objecting to the annexation and to initiate the statutorily required dispute process; the motion passed 3–1 with one abstention. The resolution directs staff to file the objection and enter the scope of arbitration prescribed by Georgia law.
Background and next steps: Under state law, a city must notify the county when an annexation includes a change in zoning or increased density; the county may object and the two jurisdictions then enter a dispute‑resolution procedure (arbitration panel). County staff recommended pursuing the objection because of the combination of proposed zoning change, potential infrastructure costs and watershed concerns near Lake Varner. If the county objects, arbitration costs are typically split between the county and the municipality, though the arbitration panel may apportion costs differently.
The board’s action does not prevent the city or the developer from continuing their application; it initiates the county’s formal challenge under the annexation statute and will lead to additional written submissions and a hearing in the coming weeks.
