Residents press Columbia County for data-center ordinance, transparency and a possible moratorium

During public comment on Aug. 18, several residents urged Columbia County leaders to provide transparent, public work products on data-center regulation and consider a temporary moratorium on new data-center applications while revisions are developed.

Lee Mun asked for specific proposed changes, public availability of draft language and a clear timetable: "What changes have been proposed? Where can the public read them? When will they come before this commission?" He also asked for explicit calculations showing what revenue will be taxable and when homeowners can expect property-tax relief tied to data-center development.

Camry Wood presented a draft model data-center ordinance to the board and asked staff and the county attorney to evaluate it publicly, to place the document on committee agendas, and to convene public workshops. "This is not presented as a perfect or a final document," she said, urging the board to let "citizens who will live with these decisions participate in shaping it." She again asked the board to consider a temporary moratorium while those reviews occur.

Susan Warren raised operational questions about the White Oak data center announcement, asking how lighting, decibel limits, protections for water supply and enforcement will be handled and whether construction and operations will be subject to the same limits. She also asked about the county's $180 million-per-year projection at full buildout and whether the county has considered project-specific bonds to protect taxpayers.

County officials responded that staff were "very close" to being able to review numbers and that some work was underway, but residents pressed for written drafts, public workshops and timelines for when proposed ordinance changes will be published and vetted.