Residents urge moratorium and say buffer was violated at proposed 719‑acre data center site

Several residents used the public-comment period to press the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners about a proposed 719‑acre hyperscale data center and to request additional oversight.

Michael Noll, speaking for a local citizens’ group, criticized public claims about data-center jobs and economic benefit and said outside analyses overstate long-term gains. He said the group has asked the board to impose a moratorium and form a citizen–government committee to examine data-center impacts, including water use, utility bills and long-term community costs. Noll cited national research alleging economic projections can be inflated and said the county has not yet responded to residents’ requests.

Neighbor Tetiana Babcock told commissioners she lives adjacent to the proposed site and said that a 200‑foot undisturbed buffer required in a prior rezoning “appears to already have been violated” when the property owner conducted a thinning cut that advanced over her property line. She said the cut destroyed a section of fence and left debris and heavy‑machinery track marks on her land, and she warned that the buffer is insufficient to mitigate noise, light and low‑frequency impacts from cooling fans and generators. Babcock also raised concerns about habitat for gopher tortoise and eastern indigo snake on or near the site.

Both commenters asked the board to ensure conditions attached to prior approvals are enforced, to consider stronger protective measures and to respond to calls for a moratorium and a joint study with community members. Commissioners took public comment but did not adopt a moratorium during the meeting.

What’s next: Commenters said they plan a town hall on April 17 to discuss data‑center impacts and urged the board to respond to their moratorium request; county staff did not announce any immediate regulatory action at the meeting.