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Stephens County commissioners extend data‑center moratorium, approve five rezoning requests and several county purchases
Summary
At their May 26 meeting, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners extended the moratorium on acceptance of land‑use applications for data centers to Oct. 14, 2026, approved four rezoning applications, postponed one variance, renewed county insurance and authorized airport and equipment spending.
Stephens County commissioners on May 26 voted to extend a moratorium halting acceptance of new land‑use applications concerning data centers and approved a slate of routine land‑use requests and county expenditures.
Staff recommended, and the board approved, a three‑month extension of the county’s moratorium on accepting data‑center land‑use applications, moving the expiration from July 14, 2026 to Oct. 14, 2026. The extension is intended to give staff and the board time to draft proposed land‑use text amendments and gather additional public input; a work session on the proposed ordinance amendments was scheduled for the next Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The board also approved four rezoning requests discussed during the land‑use public hearings: a rezoning for 604 Curry Circle (Timothy Wilbanks), a 5.32‑acre parcel requested by John Smith, a Freeman Creek Road parcel (William Heath Hutto) and a parcel for Joshua Perry. A variance request from Richard Anderson to allow a second residential structure on a parcel under two acres was tabled for additional information and at the applicant’s request.
In other votes, the board renewed the county’s ACCG‑Irma liability insurance policy; staff reported the annual premium will rise about 8.7% (from approximately $425,669 to $462,681) because insured property values increased. Commissioners authorized a FY26 construction contract for asphalt rejuvenation at the Toccoa‑Stephens County Airport and approved an additional $8,379 from contingency to complete resurfacing of the secondary runway.
The board approved several invoices and quotes, including a 2023 Ford F‑150 for building and grounds ($39,499), two sets of fire turnout gear ($15,136) and a brush truck purchase/loan takeover priced at $266,629.12 to be funded from splash funds. Commissioners approved the agenda amendment that added the moratorium extension and the brush‑truck quote and closed the meeting without requiring an executive session.
Board actions were recorded on the meeting agenda and are reflected in the minutes; individual commissioners’ roll‑call votes were not read aloud on the record during every motion (the meeting used voice assent).
