Residents raise health, noise and environmental concerns over proposed Prichard data center

Several residents told Prichard officials they want stronger local rules and more technical review before a proposed data center moves forward.

A frequent speaker in public comment (Resident / Businessman, S3) urged the council to adopt protections and not act on "what the public view is without any facts," saying officials were elected to "put the city first." He pressed officials to require ordinances to protect neighborhoods from incoming data systems and called on the council to "dot all the i's and cross all the t's." The speaker also questioned the wisdom of relying on a single large project when the city lacks sufficient business‑tax revenue.

Health and noise concerns were raised by other commenters. A public commenter (S10) warned that chronic exposure to facility emissions could "pose health risks for men and women in local communities such as chronic exposure to emissions, such as asthma," and called for attention to noise limits. Several residents disputed the severity of those claims and asked for independent testing and engineering reviews before reaching decisions.

Planning-related staff and the planning‑commission chair (S8) told the meeting that the design plans had been presented to them only recently and that technical reviews were needed. S8 said large projects typically require ALDOT or other public‑works improvements (turn lanes, street widening, water‑line work) and recommended a professional review of the plans. "Anybody can come up here and look at the layout," S8 said, adding that public improvements are often required for large projects.

The meeting produced no formal vote or ordinance; speakers repeatedly framed this as a request for more study, clearer zoning or a potential moratorium until technical and land‑use questions are resolved.