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Hundreds of residents voice opposition and demand studies as Sunbury discusses industrial rezoning and a proposed data center
Summary
Dozens of residents, business owners and professionals urged the commission and city to halt or more closely study a proposed industrial rezoning tied to a large data‑center project (referenced in mapping as Amazon/Sunbury 37 LLC), raising water, air, noise, economic and procedural concerns and requesting independent impact studies and stronger community notification.
A broad cross section of Sunbury residents and local professionals used the visitor comment period on Feb. 23 to press the Planning & Zoning Commission for more information and safeguards before any industrial rezoning or site approvals related to the Sunbury 37 LLC / data‑center proposal.
Speakers raised repeated concerns about the project’s water and energy demand, public health risks from backup generators and emissions, noise and light pollution, limited long‑term job creation, tax abatements, impacts on property values, and inadequate public notice. Several requested independent grid‑ and water‑impact studies, binding local‑hire guarantees, developer funding for infrastructure upgrades, and stronger notice to the broader community.
Resident Samantha said the community needs to consider "the serious negative effects and impacts of the proposed Amazon data center and associated industrial complex, impacts that threaten our community's water, our power, our health, our economy, quality of life, and infrastructure." Dr. Brandon Shriner, speaking as a health practitioner, warned of potential health and air‑quality effects and cited studies he said connected groundwater extraction and pollutants to adverse outcomes in other jurisdictions.
Other speakers cited regional examples — Northern Virginia and central Ohio facilities — to illustrate grid strain, generator emissions and persistent noise complaints, and asked the city to require independent studies and to place conditions on any approvals. Multiple speakers pressed the commission to revisit public‑notice practices, arguing posted signs and standard notifications did not reach enough residents for a project of this scale.
Speakers included neighbors, health professionals, small business owners, conservationists and farmers; comments ranged from technical data and requests for studies to personal testimony about quality of life and local character. The commission thanked the public and said staff would compile submitted materials and public comments and report back.
No formal rezoning vote occurred during the meeting; commissioners noted the rezoning for Sunbury 37 LLC was rescheduled to March 23 to allow verification of parcel numbers and additional review.
