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Douglas County denies rezoning and permits for proposed 703‑acre data center campus
Summary
After hours of testimony, Douglas County planning staff and both boards cited watershed protection, traffic and uncertain utility commitments in recommending denial of a 703‑acre data‑center campus; the Board of Commissioners voted 4–1 to deny the map amendment, rezoning and special‑use permits.
Planning staff told the joint meeting that East Village Oath LLC’s application — seeking a future‑land‑use change, rezoning to a planned unit development and multiple special‑use permits for a 4,400,000‑square‑foot data center campus spread over roughly 703 acres — is incompatible with the Dog River watershed character area and carries substantial infrastructure and public‑safety impacts.
Lisonbee Duncan, the county’s planning and zoning manager, told the boards staff’s recommended findings: the requested commerce‑center designation and PUD zoning are not consistent with the existing Rural Places future‑land‑use classification; extending utility services and traffic demand would adversely affect public facilities; and the applicant had not demonstrated an agreement for power to serve the project. "The request is not compatible with the comprehensive plan and future land use classification of rural places," Duncan said during her presentation.
The meeting drew a lengthy public hearing that ran more than an hour. Anna Maria Means, representing the applicant, emphasized conservation elements in the plan and asked the board to defer action so developers could address community concerns. "We designed this project to have significant conservation space, walking trails, and setbacks to help mitigate any harm this may cause to the community," Means said. Proponents at the podium focused on potential tax revenue, prepaid taxes and job projections; opponents raised concerns about water use, air and light pollution, noise, and permanent changes to the Clinton Nature Preserve and surrounding rural character.
Opponents presented local and national examples in which communities saw unexpected environmental and service costs after large‑scale data‑center buildouts. "These centers are power hungry with some consuming as much energy as a medium‑sized city," said resident Eileen Roberts. Landowners and the sheriff’s office had also submitted impact statements that, according to staff, underscored the need for further study of emergency services and traffic.
Planning and Zoning recommended denial. On the Board of Commissioners floor Melissa Polk moved to deny the map amendment (M2026‑01), and similar motions were made for the rezoning (Z2026‑56) and special‑use permits (S2026‑57). The board voted 4–1 in favor of denial on the three items; one commissioner recorded opposition to the denials.
The board’s votes leave the applicant able to revise and refile. Staff and several commissioners urged additional outreach and studies before any future filing that would expand utility service or alter watershed protections. The Board did not impose alternative conditions to permit the project at this meeting; commissioners and staff repeatedly cited the absence of a power commitment from Georgia Power and unresolved public‑safety and water‑quality questions as decisive factors.
What happens next: the applicant may revise the application and return, or pursue development options that do not require the contested map amendment. Planning staff said they will remain available to the applicant and the neighborhood for follow‑up discussions.
