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Wayne County reviews draft data‑center ordinance, debates buffers, water and noise limits
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a draft data‑center ordinance that would require state review for very large facilities, set buffers from homes and sensitive sites, and add standards for water use, noise and emergency response; staff will refine language for the January meeting.
Wayne County commissioners spent the meeting reviewing a draft ordinance intended to guide where and how data centers could locate in the county, with debate focusing on setbacks from homes and schools, water‑use verification and noise and fire‑response standards.
The draft would trigger state‑level review for very large facilities — described in the draft as Development of Regional Impact (DRI) projects exceeding 300,000 square feet in urban or suburban areas or 500,000 square feet in rural areas — and references coordination with the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center. "Once you get ... 500,000 square feet or larger building ... it has to go through what would be ours is the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center," said Speaker 3, a county official who led the ordinance review.
Why it matters: commissioners said they have no immediate data‑center applications but want a clear local standard so the county can respond consistently if companies inquire. Speaker 3 told the board that other…
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