Planning commission approves NewCold height variance for High Falls Industrial Park
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Summary
The commission approved a variance allowing a taller automated cold‑storage building at High Falls Industrial Park. Applicant said the roughly 700,000‑sq‑ft facility would bring automation and about $400 million in investment and roughly 175 jobs; staff added FAA and lighting conditions as needed.
The Spalding County Planning and Appeals Commission approved Jan. 12 a height variance for a proposed NewCold cold‑storage facility in the High Falls Industrial Park.
Applicant representatives said the project — presented as “Project Siberian Tiger” — would be a vertically oriented, highly automated cold‑storage facility of roughly 700,000 square feet, with about 165,000 pallet positions, an estimated $400 million capital investment and roughly 175 jobs split between hourly and salaried positions.
Steven Jones, the applicant’s attorney, introduced the concept and highlighted the project’s consistency with the county’s employment corridor and comprehensive plan. Rick Bakes, representing NewCold, said the tall 'high‑bay' design is necessary to host the automated conveyors and monorails used in the company’s operations. “This vertical construction allows for that automation inside those facilities,” Bakes said.
Staff recommended approval conditional on two items: submitting an FAA aeronautical study if final building heights exceed the FAA notification threshold (138 feet) and complying with any applicable FAA lighting standards. Staff also noted the applicant’s intent to employ berms and topography to screen views where feasible.
Commissioners asked about exterior color, hours of operation and whether the east side of the building would have operations; the applicant said exteriors are white with a small corporate decal, operations are 24/7 with daytime peaks, and loading/operations are oriented to service yards and the fire loop. After discussion, commissioners moved and seconded approval with staff recommendations; the motion passed with no recorded opposition.
Next steps: Staff will include the FAA‑related condition “if required” in the approval language and enforce the lighting and buffer conditions during engineering and land‑disturbance permit review.
