Columbia County commissioners voted on Nov. 18 to approve the first reading of a text amendment establishing a new data-center (DC) zoning district and changes to Chapter 90 of county code. The ordinance (listed in the meeting as Ordinance 25-07) would create a data-center zoning classification, set lot and structure requirements, require buffers, limit generator testing and include a 70-decibel limit in the draft text.

The measure now moves to a second reading before it can be adopted. County staff told the commission that the text amendment is intended to allow future rezoning applications to be considered under the DC district and that any rezoning would still require separate planning commission and board approval.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the classification aims to permit data center development while limiting impacts on nearby residences and resources. The ordinance proposal includes limits on generator testing, lighting controls, buffer widths and an explicit prohibition on wells inside the DC zoning classification.

Residents contested parts of the draft at length. Sylvia Elam of Oak Road said the 70-decibel cap “needs to be honed in” and asked where that limit is measured, warning that long-term exposure could cause hearing damage and that noise could harm pollinators. “The 70 decibels may sound good, but just to say 70 decibels needs to be honed in—where is that 70 decibels on that?” she said during public comment.

A resident who identified himself as Vin Mueller urged stronger standards on noise monitoring, deeper buffers and stricter building-height limits, arguing peers have adopted stricter thresholds: “Prince William County,… their decibel limit is 55 decibels at the building envelope,” he said, and urged the county to consider long-term monitoring and enforceable restoration guarantees.

The county responded to water concerns presented by members of the public. One commenter raised estimates for water use tied to natural-gas generation and large-scale development and asked how the county will protect well-dependent residents. County staff said the DC zoning includes a prohibition on wells in the district and explained that a local zoning restriction can be enforced even if a state permit is available; staff also noted Columbia County’s current permitted withdrawal and capacity figures and said the county is seeking closed-loop water systems from developers rather than relying on well extraction.

Industry and developer perspectives also appeared. Aaron Bilyeu, identifying industry experience at Microsoft and Meta and representing Cloverleaf Infrastructure, voiced support for the ordinance’s approach and said his company implements closed-loop cooling systems: “At Cloverleaf, we do not consume any water for cooling. We do implement closed loop systems,” he said, adding that standards in the draft represent widely used industry practices.

Several speakers pressed county officials on process and transparency. One resident accused the county and the planning board of “rubber-stamping” the ordinance despite outreach; county officials replied that public input was considered and reiterated that the first reading does not itself rezone property and that individual rezoning applications would receive separate notice and hearings.

County staff also read a project update to the commission: they said Georgia Power approved a proposed power consumption model for the White Oak/Technology Park project, that developer Trammell Crow is pursuing property acquisitions, and that the county is pursuing state-level homestead tax relief legislation tied to anticipated revenue from such development. The county’s statement said infrastructure and utility costs would be borne by the end user/developer and indicated the county desires that certain parcels owned by the development authority be rezoned under the new DC classification.

What’s next: The ordinance passed first reading and will return for a second (final) reading at a later commission meeting before becoming law. Any specific rezoning under the new DC district would require separate public notice, planning commission consideration and a subsequent board vote.

Sources: motions and staff presentation at the Nov. 18, 2025 Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting; direct public-comment quotes as recorded at the meeting.