Dozens speak at Jefferson County hearing as residents largely oppose Data Center at Proving Ground

During the public comment period at the Jefferson County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on May 20, 2026, the transcript records that a total of sixty people addressed the board about the proposed Data Center at the Jefferson County Proving Ground. The record states that most public speakers opposed the project and urged the board to reconsider, while some attendees supported the Data Center. The transcript does not provide verbatim text for individual public speakers in the summary provided.

After public comment, each party was given ten minutes to respond to issues raised. The board accepted submitted emails and documents into the record and then closed the public hearing before deliberating. Despite the volume of public comment, the board voted 5-0 to affirm the Zoning Administrator's determination that the Data Center is sufficiently similar to permitted uses in the I-2 district. The hearing record shows that parties and the public raised concerns that will likely surface again in future permitting steps, though the transcript summary does not enumerate specific environmental or traffic claims made by commenters.