Whitfield County adopts ordinance updates to limit hazardous‑waste facilities and data centers

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on March 9 to adopt amendments to the county zoning ordinance that add definitions and restrict where hazardous-waste facilities and commercial data centers may locate.

Chair opened the second-reading discussion, saying commissioners had received public feedback asking for clearer restrictions. The ordinance changes were described as adding definitions and geographic limits so such uses would not be allowed "on every corner," a reference made by a commissioner during the discussion.

Commissioner Robbins, who led portions of the discussion, said the changes responded to residents’ concerns raised at prior meetings and during the zoning process. "We want to limit where those can be done in the future as well," she said during the hearing.

Supporters of tighter rules told the board they feared local siting could produce traffic, environmental or land‑use impacts if left undefined. No formal opposition was recorded at the meeting.

The measure passed on a 4-0 vote. Under the board’s action, the county will apply the new definitions and location restrictions in future zoning reviews and permit decisions. Staff did not provide a timeline at the meeting for implementing administrative procedures that will apply the new rules.

The adoption follows prior public discussion and a planning‑commission review; the board noted the item had been posted on the county website before the hearing. Commissioners said the ordinance changes aim to give residents clearer notice and to prevent incompatible land uses near neighborhoods.