Coweta commissioners extend data‑center moratorium as residents debate "Project Sale"

Coweta County commissioners voted Dec. 4 to extend a limited moratorium on accepting new data‑center applications while the county continues public hearings and considers ordinance amendments.

The board’s action keeps the moratorium in place until the earlier of Dec. 17, the adoption of any amendments to land‑use regulations, or affirmative action by the board terminating the moratorium. Staff told the board the extension was requested because the next public hearing on a proposed data‑center ordinance is scheduled for Dec. 16 and the moratorium’s scheduled expiration would fall before that hearing.

Why it matters: the moratorium surrounds a high-profile proposed campus known in public comment as "Project Sale," a large data‑center development that residents and developers said could materially affect water use, power demand and rural character. Supporters said the project promises significant tax revenue and infrastructure paid for by the developer; opponents raised concerns about permanent commitments of water and power, potential noise and visual impacts, and the challenge of repurposing obsolete facilities in future decades.

At the meeting, staff summarized prior steps: the board originally adopted a limited moratorium May 6, held multiple public hearings in July–September and set additional hearings in November and December. The extension motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Public comment: the board heard an extended public‑comment session that featured residents, activists and local professionals. Rob Cole (District 5) urged a longer regional moratorium and suggested inter‑jurisdictional approaches to shared revenue; he asked the board to consider regional public‑private partnerships given the scale of power and water demands. Several residents—including Misty Caballero and Lynn Warren—urged caution, citing water‑usage estimates and drought risks, and asked that strict, enforceable environmental safeguards and drought contingency plans be included in any ordinance. Realtor and parent Rayleigh Nash urged commissioners to consider the revenue benefits for schools and first responders. Developer representative Joshua Lawson described recent improvements to a local lake spillway and said the developer invested in long‑lived upgrades to the dam and drainage.

Claims and evidence: speakers cited differing data points. One commenter stated that a proposed project could use “6 to 9 million gallons per day,” another compared local projects to Meta’s annual withdrawals (comments noted figures but did not provide a county staff citation in the meeting). Commissioners repeatedly asked staff to ensure facts and conditions would be memorialized in ordinance language and plats where applicable.

What’s next: the board will continue public hearings on the data‑center ordinance (next scheduled Dec. 16) and may lift the moratorium earlier if it adopts land‑use amendments or takes other affirmative action. The extension preserves the county’s ability to finalize ordinance language and collect public input before new applications are accepted.

Attribution: quotes and attributions in this article come from contributors who identified themselves during the board meeting and are listed in the meeting record.