Planning commission settles on zoning‑based setback framework for data centers

The Coffee County Planning Commission on July 28 discussed draft setback rules for proposed data centers, favoring a zoning‑based approach that applies larger buffers where a data‑center site abuts residential zones and smaller distances where it adjoins industrial parcels.

During the discussion Chair said the commission wanted dimensional parity for these large facilities, noting the draft initially allowed a 65‑foot height but commissioners preferred 35 feet to match other local standards. Planner input and staff notes guided the debate over setback distances. Commissioner comments converged around a three‑category option that staff will draft into red‑line language: 500 feet from residential zones, 150 feet where the site abuts another industrial district, and 300 feet for other adjoining districts. "If it abutted a residential zone, it's got to be 500 feet," a planning member summarized.

Several commissioners argued the county should avoid singling out data centers and instead amend district‑level yard requirements so the rule survives potential legal challenge. A planner cautioned that using the underlying zoning setbacks provides a stronger legal footing than an exception applied to a single use. The commission agreed staff should circulate a red‑lined draft and that the body could vote on individual sections at the August meeting or vote on the whole resolution then.

Next steps: staff will prepare a red‑line draft reflecting the setback tiers and other agreed edits and circulate it before the August meeting for final review and possible vote.