Whitfield commissioners approve Core Scientific rezoning for Old Tilton Road, 3-2

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on March 10 to approve a rezoning request from Core Scientific that would reclassify 173.3 acres on Old Tilton Road to Heavy Manufacturing (M-2).

The approval follows the planning commission's recommendation and includes a condition requiring access to Enterprise Drive to accommodate heavy commercial traffic and reduce potential impacts on Old Tilton Road. The motion to approve the rezoning was made by Commissioner Robby Staten and seconded by Commissioner Greg Jones. The board recorded votes in favor from Chairman Jevin Jensen and Commissioners Robby Staten and Greg Jones; Commissioners John Thomas and Barry W. Robbins voted against the rezoning.

The rezoning changes property currently zoned General Agriculture (GA) and Rural Residential (R-5) to Heavy Manufacturing, which the county's minutes show is intended to allow heavy industrial uses at the site. Public comment recorded earlier in the meeting noted community concerns about a proposed data center on Old Tilton Road; the minutes report that "several citizens voiced their concerns about a proposed data center" but do not list specific technical or environmental complaints in the record.

The board's approval is limited to the zoning classification and the access condition; the minutes do not record any final development permits, site plan approvals, mitigation measures beyond the Enterprise Drive access requirement, or a construction timeline. Additional permits and approvals from county planning and other agencies would be required before site work or building could proceed.

The record shows the planning commission's recommendation was the basis for the vote and that the access requirement was added as a condition for consideration. The minutes do not specify whether any traffic study or off-site improvements were required as part of the condition.