$30M lawsuit claims DeKalb leaders approved building data center, then issued moratorium
Shadowbox Studios is suing DeKalb County, Georgia, for $30 million, claiming the county misled them into believing they could build a data center on their property, despite it not being zoned for such use. After the company spent millions on development, the county enacted and extended a data center moratorium, leading to the lawsuit. County officials acknowledge concerns about how these promises were made without public input and the potential cost to taxpayers.
Shadowbox Studios has filed a $30 million civil lawsuit against DeKalb County, Georgia, alleging that county officials misled the company for three years. The company claims it was assured it could build a data center on its property, based on an email from the county's planning department interpreting the 2015 Zoning Ordinance, even though the land was not officially zoned for such use. This interpretation, however, was not approved by the Board of Commissioners.
After Shadowbox Studios invested millions in developing the property, the DeKalb County Commissioners voted for a moratorium on data centers, which they have since extended until at least September 30. DeKalb County Commissioner Nicole Massiah expressed long-held suspicions that county officials were making such promises to companies in writing without public input, raising concerns about the potential cost to taxpayers.
The lawsuit is expected to be discussed at an upcoming DeKalb County board meeting. Additionally, a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing for the property is scheduled for September 9.