Hogansville council reviews proposed UDO changes to regulate data centers and create Heavy Industrial zoning

Mayor Pro‑Tem Mandy Neese called the City of Hogansville work session to order at 6:00 p.m. on June 1, 2026, where staff presented proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to establish a Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district and to set standards for data center developments. Aaron Fortner presented the draft changes and explained that the UDO would establish baseline standards while project-specific terms would be negotiated through development agreements.

Staff and legal counsel recommended that all developments of impact be required to enter into a Council‑approved development agreement before permits or rezonings are issued. Council members discussed which technical and operational standards should be codified in the UDO versus which should be negotiated on a project-by-project basis, including setbacks, buffers, noise mitigation measures, utility requirements, and decommissioning obligations for data centers. Council asked staff to submit any additional requirements and comments by June 3, 2026, to allow staff to prepare a revised draft for the called work session on June 8, 2026; a public hearing on the proposed ordinance is scheduled for June 15, 2026.

The discussion emphasized balancing baseline zoning clarity with flexibility through development agreements. The council did not take a formal vote at the work session; the City Attorney was asked to research the legality and process for a city‑level non‑binding referendum as an additional step in the public process. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.