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Commissioners seek moratorium and ordinance language as data‑center interest grows
Summary
The board directed staff to add a supplemental item to the next regular meeting to begin drafting a data‑center ordinance and discussed a possible 180‑day moratorium to allow the county to set zoning standards (some applications may already have vested rights).
As data‑center proposals arrive, Coweta County commissioners asked staff to draft an ordinance specific to data centers and to add discussion of a moratorium to the supplemental agenda at the next regular meeting.
Staff told the board that data centers are not currently a contemplated use in the county’s zoning districts and that, absent an ordinance, each application is handled under broader industrial or light‑manufacturing provisions. The presenter said model approaches range from a short set of minimum standards to a detailed standalone ordinance; the board discussed which districts should permit data centers and whether Rural Conservation areas should be excluded.
The chairman said he would like a moratorium on rezonings for data centers to allow time to craft an ordinance; a 180‑day moratorium was suggested as a working target. County counsel cautioned that moratoria require fact‑specific analysis — some prospective applicants may have progressed far enough to claim vested rights — but agreed that a moratorium can be a useful pause if the board identifies clear policy reasons.
Commissioners also discussed requiring detailed conditions — for example, separation distances and infrastructure standards — and noted prior experience with solar‑farm and liquor‑control ordinance development as a template for a structured approach. Staff recommended adding the data‑center moratorium and ordinance drafting discussion to the supplemental agenda of the upcoming regular meeting so the public will have notice and the board can consider action there.
No moratorium or ordinance was adopted at the work session; staff was asked to put supplemental agenda language on the regular meeting agenda for a possible vote.
