Statesboro faces legal challenge over August 2026 data center rezoning vote
The City of Statesboro is facing a lawsuit from local residents and a nonprofit, Coastal Communities United, challenging a recent rezoning decision that would pave the way for a data center. The plaintiffs argue the city violated its own rules during the rezoning process and are seeking to overturn the vote and invalidate a previously passed data center ordinance. Concerns include the definition of hyperscale data centers, potential environmental impacts, and strain on the power grid.
Last week, eleven Statesboro residents and the nonprofit Coastal Communities United filed a lawsuit in Bulloch County, Georgia, aiming to overturn the City Council's August 18th rezoning vote. This decision narrowly approved the rezoning of a 26.49-acre parcel off Burkhalter Road for a proposed data center.
The plaintiffs contend that the city failed to follow its own procedural rules during the rezoning process, specifically regarding public hearings. A primary concern for the opposition is the city's definition of hyperscale data centers and the potential impact a facility of this size, even one slightly below hyperscale, could have on nearby property owners. They argue that a quick rezone to an office zone, which could then house a massive data center, does not make sense and puts residents at a disadvantage.
The lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court, including overturning the August 18th rezoning vote, invalidating the city's data center ordinance passed in June, and mandating independent studies on the project's potential environmental and power grid impacts. Plaintiffs argue that such significant decisions require specific data analysis that has not been adequately performed.
When contacted for a response, the City of Statesboro declined to comment on the details of the suit, citing pending litigation, but stated its intention to respond fully in court.