Jackson data center rezoning hearing postponed
A rezoning hearing for a potential data center project in Jackson, Mississippi, by Saxum Investment Company has been postponed until June 24 to allow for more community engagement. The company is seeking to rezone 190 acres of land from residential/commercial to heavy industrial use, but faces significant community opposition over concerns about noise, emissions, and utility burdens. This postponement comes as the City Council debates a proposed six-month moratorium on new data center projects in the city.
A rezoning hearing for a proposed data center in Jackson, Mississippi, has been delayed until June 24 following a request from the applicant, Saxum Investment Company. Robert Ireland, an attorney representing Saxum, stated the company seeks additional time for community and city engagement, especially as Jackson prepares to introduce data center-specific standards to address concerns over noise, emissions, and utility demands.
Saxum is seeking to rezone approximately 190 acres of land in northwest Jackson, currently home to a horse track near the Presidential Hills neighborhood, from residential and commercial to heavy industrial use. The proposal has met with strong opposition from residents across Jackson, who voiced concerns about transparency and the general impact of data centers.
The City Council is also debating a six-month moratorium on new data center projects. Council President Brian Grizzell, who introduced the measure, believes it would provide a "cooling period" to study the impact of data centers. However, the city attorney’s office has cautioned that passing such a moratorium without proper public notice could lead to due-process violations.
Ireland emphasized the potential economic benefits, citing a data center of similar size in Clinton that could bring significant tax revenue to Jackson and its school district. He also highlighted a "finite window of opportunity" for the city to attract such projects, noting the rapid expansion of data centers driven by AI development. Mississippi currently has seven confirmed data centers in development, with varying community reactions to their economic potential versus environmental impacts.