Troup unveils proposed data center draft ordinance

The Troup County Board of Commissioners unveiled a proposed draft ordinance for new zoning regulations targeting data centers in the county's unincorporated areas. Commission Chairman Patrick Crews clarified that the ordinance would not apply to incorporated cities like LaGrange, Hogansville, or West Point, and stressed that no specific data center projects are currently being considered for the unincorporated county. Crews acknowledged that public concerns arose from previous developments such as Google's "Project Pegasus" in LaGrange and the subsequently denied "Project West," which led to local moratoriums on new data centers. The county is currently in its third 90-day moratorium on data centers, set to end on June 14. Austin Burgess, Troup County Community Development Director, presented the draft regulations, which categorize data centers by size (small, average, hyperscale) and require a special use permit for all. Key provisions include a minimum 25-acre parcel size, mandatory connection to public water systems, preferred connection to public sanitary sewers, and prior approval from a power company confirming power supply capacity. The proposed regulations also mandate significant setbacks: 300 feet from property lines for principal buildings and 1,500 feet from "sensitive receptors" (including residences, schools, and hospitals). Noise levels would be capped at 60 decibels at sensitive receptor property boundaries, with quarterly noise assessments required. Additionally, an environmental community impact analysis and a decommissioning plan with a surety bond would be mandatory for most facilities. During a public hearing, citizens, including Cyndie Hutchings of the Troup County Anti-Data Center Coalition, expressed concerns about noise, water usage, and the potential for cities to annex land to circumvent county regulations. Hutchings commended the county's efforts but suggested strengthening setback requirements and advocated for a complete ban on cryptocurrency data centers, which she argued are primarily driving hyperscale development and its extensive infrastructure demands. The commissioners voted to continue their discussion on the ordinance.