Americus City Council discusses data center ordinance
The Americus City Council is discussing a potential ordinance to regulate data centers, aiming to protect the community from potential impacts. The proposed regulations include industrial zoning, special approval, setbacks, and noise limits. Council members also raised concerns about water usage and briefly discussed the possibility of a moratorium.
The Americus City Council met on July 17 to discuss a potential ordinance designed to regulate data centers within the city. City Attorney Tommy Coleman outlined the proposed ordinance, emphasizing its purpose to protect the community rather than invite data center development. The ordinance would classify data centers as requiring special approval in industrial districts, necessitating a zoning change and public hearing process involving both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
Key provisions of the draft ordinance include a 250-foot buffer setback (reduced to 50 feet if contiguous to a highway) and a cap on sound generation at 70 decibels. Council Member Kris Bowden expressed concern about the noise level, suggesting a lower 50-decibel limit at the property line, which Coleman indicated could be added while cautioning about the need for reasonable regulations. Council Member Daryl Dowdell inquired about water usage, leading Coleman to explain varying water demands among different data center designs.
Council Member Bowden also questioned the need for a moratorium on data centers, to which Coleman responded that he could draft one, provided it had a specific goal. Americus Mayor Travis Rush clarified that the Mayor and Council have no insight into specific companies expressing interest, with such inquiries being handled by the Sumter County Development Authority. Rusty Warner, Executive Director of the Sumter County Development Authority, mentioned plans for an Americus Innovation Center.