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Residents urge repeal or moratorium on Technology Park overlay, citing water and health risks
Summary
Dozens of Paulding County residents pressed commissioners during public comment to repeal or pause the county's Technology Park overlay and to block hyperscale data centers, raising water-supply, noise, health and transparency concerns and asking for independent studies or a public vote.
Dozens of residents told the Paulding County Board of Commissioners on July 14 that the county should pause or repeal a Technology Park overlay that residents say allows hyperscale data centers to be built near homes without full rezoning hearings.
The public-comment period was dominated by environmental and health warnings. "Once our water is gone, guys, it's gone," said Marilyn Sawyer, a resident who identified herself as speaking on water-resource issues and noted Paulding sits on headwaters for the Etowah and Tallapoosa systems. Sawyer cited county reservoir permit figures and a projection she said shows demand could exceed legal limits by 2035, and she warned a large data center could consume hundreds of thousands of gallons per day.
Shannon Utz, who reviewed the county's Unified Development Ordinance, said the Technology Park overlay "allows data centers to be permitted on the land that remains residentially zoned without a rezoning hearing," arguing the overlay thus bypasses the public process residents expect for industrial uses. Michelle Woven and others alleged limited notice and questioned whether developers and outside attorneys had disproportionate access during prior meetings.
Several public speakers raised health concerns tied to industrial operations, including noise from 24/7 backup generators and cooling systems and chemical risks from cooling-tower maintenance. "Hyperscale data centers are not harmless buildings with computers. They're industrial facilities, and they bring industrial health risks," said Renee Bates.
Speakers who oppose the overlay asked the board to act. Michelle Nelson formally called on the board to "repeal the text amendment that created the Technology Park Overlay District" (referencing section 2.20-40 of the UDO) or at minimum to remove data centers, battery manufacturing, substations and backup-power infrastructure from the overlay and place any repeal on a future agenda with required public hearings.
Not every speaker opposed the projects. Elizabeth Lyle, a longtime resident and former software worker, defended representative decision-making and noted the overlay contains design measures such as buffers, dark-sky lighting and noise limits she said were intended to protect nearby properties.
The board did not take action on the overlay at the meeting. Commissioners approved a slate of routine contracts and planning items earlier in the session; public commenters asked for independent studies, a moratorium and greater transparency as next steps.
The board adjourned after public comment; speakers said they will continue to organize and seek future hearings or legal options if necessary.
