Statesboro panel recommends data center rezoning after heated public debate
A Statesboro planning commission recommended rezoning for a data center project after a heated public meeting. Residents raised concerns about water usage, electricity demands, and noise pollution, but the commission still voted for approval.
The Statesboro Planning Commission has recommended rezoning a 27-acre plot along Burkhalter Road for a new data center, despite a packed and tense public meeting where citizens voiced strong opposition.
Residents, including Nadia Dreid, Lindsey Williams, and Lori Braselton, expressed concerns about the project's potential impact. Key issues raised included the severe drought conditions and the data center's substantial water usage, the demand for 99MW of electricity requiring a dedicated Georgia Power substation, and the prospect of 24-hour noise pollution affecting nearby homes and property values. Developers, however, argued that a data center would generate significantly less traffic than the residential zoning currently allows.
After a heated debate, the commission voted to recommend approval to the City Council. Some residents, like Sarah Thompson, felt their concerns were not genuinely considered, suggesting the decision was pre-arranged.