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Residents split over 'Project Sale' data‑center during Coweta public comment
Summary
At the July 1 Coweta County meeting, residents delivered opposing public‑comment testimony about 'Project Sale,' a proposed large data‑center campus. Speakers raised concerns about noise enforcement, environmental and water impacts and construction risks, while other speakers highlighted tax revenue and low operational impacts; no zoning decision was made.
Multiple Coweta County residents used the July 1 public‑comment period to press the board on "Project Sale," a proposed large data‑center campus that has generated months of local discussion.
Opponents urged stricter ordinance language and raised technical concerns. Neil Wolf (speaker 11) questioned how noise standards would be measured and enforced, how environmental site analyses would be defined and who would pay for baseline structural surveys to protect nearby wells and homes during construction. "Will it be me with my phone, which is not a scientifically proven noise measuring tool?" Wolf asked, calling for clearer standards and enforcement mechanisms.
Several speakers warned of construction‑phase impacts. Ron Bachrath (speaker 17) recounted instances elsewhere where construction allegedly affected wells and cited a roof collapse tied to blasting in other projects, saying homeowners often lack the funds to prove damage and asked the county to require developer responsibility for such harms.
Supporters emphasized economic benefits and mitigation measures. Elizabeth Goode (speaker 15) said Project Sale could bring tax revenue, help schools and emergency services and is low‑visibility once built. Skin Edge (speaker 16) noted industry practices such as air‑cooled systems and cited the Georgia Public Service Commission's review of related utility planning, saying similar campuses can be quiet and use buffers for screening.
Speakers on both sides asked the board for more technical clarity: who sets thresholds for environmental and noise analyses, what standards govern the environmental site analysis, how water and energy consumption will be assessed, and what enforcement tools will be used if impacts occur.
No action on Project Sale was taken at the July 1 meeting; the public comment was received and the board proceeded with other agenda business, including voting to enter executive session for personnel matters later in the meeting.
