Commissioners approve text amendment for technology‑park/data‑center overlay with 200‑foot non‑disturb buffer after public comment

The Paulding County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 3 to approve Text Amendment Item 28, which amends the Unified Development Ordinance to create an overlay district for technology parks and data centers, after a commissioner moved to approve the change with an added stipulation requiring a 200‑foot non‑disturbed buffer.

Todd Pownell, a resident who spoke during the public comment period, asked the board to deny Item 28 or at least table the matter until the board’s second meeting in January to allow time for open‑records review and further community consideration. Pownell told the board Planning & Zoning had recommended denial and urged either denial or tabling; he said that if the board chose approval he and his neighbors wanted a ‘‘200 foot non disturbed buffer.’’

A commissioner moved to approve Item 28 with that 200‑foot non‑disturbed buffer stipulation. The motion was seconded and the chair called for a voice vote; the board answered ‘‘Aye’’ and the chair announced the motion carried. The public record shows Planning & Zoning had recommended denial (noted in the meeting packet), but the Board of Commissioners approved the amendment with the specific buffer stipulation added on the floor.

The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally by name or any separate recorded vote breakdown for or against the final motion. The county staff recommended stipulations if the board departed from P&Z’s denial recommendation; the board chose to adopt the amendment with the added buffer.

Next steps identified in the meeting record include staff processing the ordinance language consistent with the board’s direction and applying any specified stipulations at the time development applications are considered by county staff and boards.