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Council enacts one-year moratorium on data centers to study local impacts
Summary
The council approved a 12-month moratorium on data centers (ordinance 4017 / ord. no. 7077) to allow zoning updates and study of water, power and housing impacts after presentations by Brad Coulter of the county economic development department; the transcript shows voice votes but no roll‑call tallies.
The Powder Springs City Council voted to adopt a one-year moratorium on data-center development so local planners can update zoning and gather impact studies.
Brad Coulter, speaking "on behalf of the Fayette County Commissioners Economic Development Department," told the council that data centers have become politically contentious and that local planning ordinances date to 1992 and require updating. "Over the last couple years, data centers have become pretty unpopular with most people. I even looked today, it's about 70% of the people are opposed to having a data center in their locale," Coulter said, arguing that a pause would allow officials to assess impacts on water and power and to pursue an impact study if needed.
A second presenter (referred to in the record by Coulter) urged a citizen committee and cross‑jurisdictional work with area planning to ensure public transparency and to gather balanced evidence. Council moved, suspended the rules and carried motions to approve pending ordinance 4017 (ordinance no. 7077) on the floor; the transcript records the voice approvals but does not provide a roll‑call tally.
Councilmembers and planning officials said the moratorium gives the area planning commission time to study potential consequences—especially water and power demands and fair‑housing considerations—before specific projects would be allowed under updated rules.
Next steps noted in the record include drafting updated ordinances, possible impact studies, and outreach through a citizens' committee; staff said funding and a position to manage the effort may be sought in the county budget.
