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Residents urge pause on data-center plans, demand environmental and noise studies
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the Franklin County Commission they oppose proposed hyperscale data centers and called for independent environmental-impact and sound-frequency studies, town halls with developers, and stronger enforcement of land-use rules.
Scores of residents used the non-agenda public-comment period to press the commission to halt or more tightly regulate proposed hyperscale data centers and to provide independent studies on environmental and sound impacts.
Janine (public commenter) told the commission she had aerial footage and news clippings alleging unpermitted generators and other problems at a Colossus site in Memphis: "Colossus is 2 years old, sir, and it's been running on 60 unpermitted generators," she said, and she said she would provide the footage to the county. Several speakers echoed concerns about generators, chemical and battery-fire risk, and the adequacy of local land-use enforcement once large developers are operating in a community.
Other residents demanded more public engagement: one asked why town halls with developers had not been held and said repeated requests to place items on the agenda had gone unanswered. Thomas Krauss raised questions about a $25,000-per-site Scribe Line contract and whether the county had conducted a nonbiased tax assessment; another commenter asked where the $50,000 study contract funds would come from. The chair responded the county had not yet spent the $50,000 and said requests would be gathered for discussion at an upcoming workshop.
Some commenters also pressed the commission on sound-frequency impacts. Travis Layton offered to fund an acoustic engineer to show low-frequency (DBC) measurements that he said can cause health effects and said many similar counties hold evening meetings to increase public participation.
Steve Etcher, who identified himself at the podium, urged commissioners to "press the pause button" and start environmental-impact studies for the Crooked Creek and Donner Farm sites before any rezoning decisions. "Start at the bottom," Etcher told the panel. "Stop this agenda, please."
Speakers repeatedly asked the commission to increase transparency, host developer town halls, and provide clear packets in advance so residents can prepare for agenda items. Commissioners said they would compile public requests for the workshop and that written comments had not been intended to replace live public comment.
