Franklin County hearing draws large public opposition to proposed data-center rules and rezonings

Franklin County held a public hearing on proposed countywide regulations for data centers and three related rezonings near Robertsville Road and Highway 100, where dozens of residents urged officials to delay action, strengthen protections for neighboring properties and require more public notice.

Many speakers, including long‑time residents, parents and local educators, raised concerns about noise, health effects, water use, electrical demand and property values should large data centers be allowed near small communities and nature areas. “I don’t want to live next to a data center. I want peace and quiet,” said Sherman Smith of Robertsville, who said sustained 50–60 decibel noise from data‑center operations has harmed his hearing and that centers bring only a small number of local jobs but substantial long‑term industrial impacts.

An unnamed commission member clarified procedural boundaries for tonight’s testimony and said staff will include remarks made at the hearing in the records for three files: 250264 (the proposed countywide regulations) and 250269 and 250270 (the rezonings for properties at Robertsville Road and Highway 100). The commission member asked speakers whose comments relate specifically to the rezoning files to wait until those cases are opened and maps are displayed.

Residents described local impacts in personal terms: a resident identified the nearest school, Coleman Elementary, as about 1.8 miles from the proposed site; a Pacific High School senior said rezoning Diamond Farms would permanently alter property values and the quiet enjoyment of long‑held family land; and public educators warned of broader effects from the expanding data‑center footprint. “Communities deserve direct representation,” Owen Bruns said, asking the commission to require a citizen vote for communities that would be affected.

Representatives of conservation interests asked for more time and stronger protections. Tim O’Connell, an attorney appearing for Shaw Nature Reserve, praised work by county planning staff on proposed restrictions but asked the commission to delay action, allow more input and accept written exhibits so additional protections for neighboring restored habitats can be considered.

Several speakers also criticized the public‑notification process. Multiple residents said they learned about the proposals via social media two days before the hearing rather than by mailed notice, and one speaker urged commissioners to be mindful of perceived secrecy and local ties between landowners and developers.

Speakers called for further study before any regulatory decision. Kelly Day, who said she has corporate experience, urged the county to commission an independent benchmarking study of other jurisdictions’ regulations and to set fees or tax terms that reflect the revenues and scale of large corporate data‑center operators rather than token application fees.

Commissioners did not conduct any final vote during the hearing. The most recent procedural step recorded on the record was the commission member’s direction that public testimony be entered into the files for 250264, 250269 and 250270; staff also said the rezoning files will be opened later so maps can be shown to the public and site‑specific testimony taken. The meeting briefly paused later in the evening to restore a video feed used to display maps and exhibits.

What happens next: the commission has not adopted any regulation or approved any rezoning tonight. The record for the three files will include public testimony given this evening, and commissioners or staff signaled that additional written comment and future meetings could follow before any final action is taken.