DeKalb delays data-center rules after large public turnout; staff ordered to revise draft

DeKalb County commissioners on Sept. 30 postponed action on proposed countywide rules for data centers and on a large PCC DeKalb data‑center proposal after several hours of public comment and questions from commissioners.

The board voted to defer drafting of a text amendment that would add standards and a permitting process for data centers in industrial and some commercial districts for 60 days, until the Nov. 20 zoning meeting, and asked planning staff to prepare a revised “Draft 3” that incorporates community and stakeholder feedback.

The amendment, introduced by planners as an attempt to regulate the rapid growth of data centers around metro Atlanta, proposed three facility classes (minor, major and campus) and new requirements on water, energy, noise, architecture and a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) process for larger facilities. Tricia Prevost, senior planner for long‑range planning, said staff’s goal was “to ensure balance between economic development and the welfare of the community” and described proposed measures including a closed‑loop cooling requirement, utility service letters from providers, noise assessments and a SLUP for major and campus facilities.

Community speakers said the draft still left major gaps. “We need legislation that is strong enough to prevent unwanted data centers in our communities,” said Claudette Leek of Renew DeKalb during public comment. Residents raised concerns about drinking‑water impacts, generator noise, air pollution and whether neighborhoods — notably parts of South and Southeast DeKalb — would shoulder most projects. Several speakers asked the board to extend the county moratorium on data‑center applications until stronger rules are adopted.

Commissioners emphasized two themes during deliberations. Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson and others pressed for time to circulate a substantive new draft to community councils and the planning commission; Commissioner Ted Terry emphasized the SLUP as a protection, saying the SLUP “means … every application that comes in for a data center of any size would have to go through the special land use permit process, which is a public hearing.” The board ultimately voted to defer 60 days to allow staff to post a revised draft on the county’s EngageDeKalb site and to present it at community council and planning commission meetings before the Nov. 20 public hearing.

Separately, PCC DeKalb — the largest project discussed late in the meeting — asked to build a multi‑building facility on a site served by existing high‑voltage transmission lines. PCC representatives outlined a project that would include a substation and clustered mechanical yards, said the campus would use closed‑loop electrical and water systems, and offered voluntarily to preserve adjacent forested acreage as conservation land. The applicant’s consultant also presented an economic estimate they said equated to roughly $28 million in annual tax revenue at full build‑out. Neighbors opposed the proposal, noting the site’s residential overlay and saying the Boulder Crest/Cedar Grove overlay was meant to protect housing and community character. The board deferred that application 60 days as well, setting it for the Nov. 20 zoning meeting with a public hearing.

What happens next

Staff said it will prepare a third draft of the countywide text amendment incorporating the public and stakeholder input the department received during the summer and at community meetings. Commissioners requested additional detail on noise limits and generator testing rules, water‑use safeguards (planned closed‑loop recycling) and how utility service letters from Georgia Power and other providers would be verified. Planning staff asked residents to submit written comments on EngageDeKalb; the commission directed staff to present the next draft at the planning commission and community‑council meetings before returning the text to the board.

Quotes

“The number one aspect of this text amendment is the special land use permit. That means … every application that comes in for a data center of any size would have to go through the special land use permit process, which is a public hearing,” Commissioner Ted Terry said during the hearing.

“The proposed amendment does not meet these expectations,” said Claudette Leek, who urged stronger protections and ongoing monitoring of operational impacts. Another resident, Gina Mangum, urged a longer deferral and asked for “a moratorium until all issues have been addressed.”

Ending

The board scheduled a public hearing and review of the revised draft for Nov. 20. Planning staff asked residents and community groups to submit comments through the county’s EngageDeKalb platform; staff said it would post the next draft there and present it at scheduled community‑council meetings prior to the Nov. 20 hearing.

ACTIONS AT A GLANCE

(NOTE: motions and outcomes recorded from the Sept. 30 zoning meeting transcript.) - N12 (chapter 27 text amendment: data‑center standards) — Motion by Commissioner Ted Terry, seconded by Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson; outcome: deferred 60 days to Nov. 20 zoning meeting (public hearing). Notes: staff to prepare Draft 3 and present to community councils and planning commission. - PCC DeKalb site (large data‑center campus on Loveless Place / Pine View Trail) — Motion to defer to Nov. 20 (public hearing); outcome: deferred 60 days to Nov. 20 zoning meeting (public hearing). Notes: staff requested more legal/land‑use analysis and traffic/utility impact details. - Stone Mountain Trail Master Plan (N13) — Motion: staff requested 2‑week deferral; outcome: deferred 2 weeks for a decision‑only appearance Oct. 14. - Washington Memorial Gardens rezoning (funeral home / OI rezoning) — Motion to defer to Nov. 20 (public hearing); outcome: deferred to Nov. 20 public hearing. - N6 KL Capital rezoning to HR‑1 (3507 Chamblee‑Tucker Rd.) — Motion to approve with conditions (brick elevation preferred); outcome: approved with conditions. - N3/N4 (car‑wash / drive‑through at 1849 Lawrenceville Hwy.) — Motion to defer to Nov. 18 zoning meeting (public hearing); outcome: deferred. - N5 New Life Baptist housing / single‑family proposal — Motion to defer to Nov. 20 (public hearing); outcome: deferred. - N7 personal‑care home (1766 Big Valley Lane) — Motion to approve with conditions; outcome: approved with conditions (SLUP, nontransferable). - Flintwood child daycare (1747 Flintwood Dr.) — Motion to approve with conditions (hours adjusted to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. as board amendment); outcome: approved with conditions. - 2339 Brandon Rd. late‑night event space (SLUP) — Motion to defer 2 weeks for decision‑only hearing (Oct. 14); outcome: deferred 2 weeks; staff asked for dark‑sky lighting plan, owner authorization and other clarifying materials.

This account is based on the meeting transcript and speakers’ statements recorded in the Sept. 30, 2025 DeKalb County zoning meeting.