No data centers chants erupt at packed Jackson meeting
Jackson residents packed a Planning Board meeting, chanting "No data centers!" in opposition to a controversial rezoning request by Saxum Investment Group LLC for a proposed data center. The board ultimately voted to postpone the rezoning request, while the City Council is set to hold a separate public hearing on broader data center regulations, following the tabling of a proposed moratorium.
Dozens of Jackson, Mississippi residents, holding signs and chanting "No data centers!", packed a contentious Jackson Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, May 27. The meeting focused on a controversial rezoning request from Saxum Investment Group LLC, seeking to rezone 190 acres near Forest Avenue and Interstate 220 to I-2 industrial use for a future data center.
Attorney Robert Ireland, representing Saxum, requested a postponement of the rezoning hearing, citing ongoing discussions with city officials about establishing data center-specific regulations addressing concerns like noise, emissions, and utility burdens. Residents, frustrated by the lack of immediate answers and the postponement, repeatedly challenged board members and questioned the transparency of the process. Planning Board Chair Michael Booker struggled to maintain control amidst the public outcry. The board ultimately voted to postpone Saxum's rezoning request until June 24.
Separately, the Jackson City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on June 22 to discuss possible data center regulations and updates to the city's zoning ordinance. This comes after the council debated a proposed 183-day moratorium on new data center development, introduced by City Councilman Brian Grizzell, which was tabled due to concerns about its compliance with Mississippi zoning law. Residents and developers, including Ireland, previously spoke both for and against the moratorium, with some residents citing issues near an xAI facility in Southaven as examples of negative impacts.