Commissioners deny proposal for a hyperscale data‑center campus in Bouldercrest overlay

The board denied an application that staff characterized as proposing a utility/data‑center campus of roughly 1,000,000 square feet in the Bouldercrest Overlay (Tier 5) after planning staff urged denial and residents voiced broad opposition.

John Reed, senior advisor in planning, told the board staff could not identify an appropriate land‑use category for the planned data center and said the scale and service demands (electricity, water) made the proposed campus incompatible with the suburban character and the overlay’s intent to protect residential neighborhoods. "Staff finds the proposed land use does not satisfy applicable standards for approval of a special land use permit, specifically the proposed 1,000,000 square foot data center campus is not compatible with adjacent and nearby residential properties," Reed said.

Residents from Cedar Grove and South DeKalb urged denial, citing quality‑of‑life, cumulative industrial impacts, and concern for schools and local infrastructure. Pat Culp, president of the Cedar Grove Neighborhood Association, asked commissioners to protect the neighborhood and deny the application. Organizers and environmental advocates framed data centers as large‑scale industrial uses that should not be permitted near long‑standing residential areas.

Applicant counsel Steven Jones asked for a 60‑day deferral to evaluate draft county data‑center standards; the board instead heard public comments and ultimately approved a motion to deny consistent with staff findings that the proposal failed multiple special‑land‑use criteria.