Clermont council directs attorney to draft data-center zoning amendment, sets June 10 input deadline

The Clermont Town Council voted June 2 to have the town attorney draft a data-center zoning amendment after reviewing a Hall County draft ordinance provided for reference.

Council member Seth Weaver moved that the council proceed with Town Attorney David Syfan preparing a Zoning Center Regulation Amendment to Clermont's Planning and Zoning Ordinance; James Castleberry seconded the motion and all council members voted in favor. The motion directs the attorney to adapt Hall County's draft into a format that complies with Clermont's regulations.

The minutes state the Hall County document is a draft and ‘‘is written in the format of a Hall County ordinance.’’ Attorney David Syfan noted the county draft would require ‘‘considerable time revising it and converting it into a format that complies with Clermont's planning and zoning regulations’’ before it could be used as a Clermont ordinance.

Council members were asked to submit their input to Town Clerk Amy Lomax by June 10 at 4:00 p.m. The council scheduled a called work session with the attorney on July 7 at 5:00 p.m. to review the draft and continue the discussion.

Mayor James Nix also encouraged council members and residents to attend Hall County public meetings tied to updates to the Unified Development Code and Comprehensive Plan; the minutes reference a Hall County meeting at the Nopone Community Center on June 9 and another meeting at the Hall County Government Center on June 4.

No ordinance text or specific regulatory provisions were adopted at the June 2 meeting; the council's action authorized drafting and further review, with public meetings and subsequent council consideration expected to follow.