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Haines Station residents ask Augusta officials for public meeting, clearer notice on proposed data center
Summary
Residents near Haines Station urged the Augusta Richmond County Commission to review public notice and hold an evening meeting about a proposed 211-acre data center after neighbors said they learned about the project late and worry about wetlands, flooding and hazardous wastes from generators and batteries.
Residents of the Haines Station subdivision asked the Augusta Richmond County Commission on a January special-call meeting to review how they were notified about a planned data center and to hold a public meeting in the evening so more neighbors can participate.
"Residents are approaching this with a focus on facts, data, and documented processes," Zakiyah Mabry told the commission, saying some neighbors first learned of the Eisenhower data center proposal around Dec. 29, 2025 and that notice appeared late or hard to find. She asked the commission to review the notice process and take corrective action if deficiencies are found.
Charles Abel, an active-duty servicemember stationed at Fort Gordon, told commissioners he is not opposed to development but questioned technical and environmental details in the Development of Regional Impact filings. Abel raised concerns about the site sitting on wetlands, floodplain and a watershed, water use by the facility, and hazardous materials associated with generators, battery backup systems and refrigeration units.
Interim director Vassar and development services manager Kevin Boyd said the property at issue sits on roughly 211 acres, and that the applicant previously proceeded through a DRI process and received approvals in 2022. Staff said the applicant has added land to increase separation from wetlands and noted planned buffers: a 100-foot power-line easement to the east, a 50-foot buffer on the west shown in the concept plan and about a 500-foot separation to the nearest building on the north.
Commissioners acknowledged the community's concerns and asked staff to provide documentation of the required advertising and posted notices. Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice said she represents Haines Station and committed to arranging a community meeting so residents can hear from the project's attorney and ask questions; Mayor Garnett L. Johnson said such a meeting would likely occur within 30 to 60 days.
The commission and staff emphasized that no finalized development approvals were presented at the meeting and described the matter as an emerging issue that will require follow-up public engagement and documentation of prior notices.
The commission did not take a formal vote on any land-use permit at the meeting. Officials said they will share details about signs, newspaper ads and other public-notice records with the residents and schedule further community outreach.
