Forest Park officials and council debate potential data center in Fort Gilliam area; URA process and community benefits agreement discussed

Council members raised concerns on June 16 about a proposed data center project on property commonly called the Fort Gilliam area, saying residents near Ward 3 should be engaged and that the city should secure environmental and community benefits protections.

Councilman Hector Gutierrez initiated the discussion after receiving constituent inquiries. Staff said developers have filed applications with the urban design review board and that the project is at a preliminary stage; no land disturbance permits had been issued and no ground had been broken. Staff and the city attorney described processes that could apply: the Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA) reviewed the property as part of a longer-running initiative called Project Splash, and the Downtown/Development authority would be the formal body to approve a tax abatement; any tax-abatement package would typically involve a community benefits agreement and the city would be a party to that contract.

Council members voiced a range of concerns: potential air emissions from emergency generators, increased energy demand (and the effect on Georgia Power rates), tree loss and tree-protection enforcement, impacts on nearby residences, and the absence of early public notice. Other council members and staff noted the URA's prior nondisclosure protections during negotiation and said some information had been discussed in executive sessions and in earlier URA meetings. Several council members asked staff to arrange developer briefings for the council and the community and to secure environmental and community-benefit commitments in writing.

Staff described potential fiscal benefits raised by financial advisers (franchise fees in an estimated range of $100,000–$400,000 annually) but emphasized those revenues are one part of a larger trade-off. The council requested staff pursue direct developer briefings to explain the project's scope, the energy and cooling technologies proposed, mitigation plans, and expected time lines; staff confirmed they were seeking meetings and said the applicant would appear before the urban design review board the following Friday.

The council discussed the limits of its direct approvals: zoning for the use is permitted, and the immediate approvals for a design review are administrative; however, the city would be a signatory to any community benefits agreement and typically would review tax-abatement requests with the development authority and the governing body. Council members said they want early community meetings in Ward 3 and for staff to clarify the review points, regulatory limits, and environmental protections tied to the proposal.