Statesboro city planning board recommends zoning change for Burkhalter Rd. data center
The Statesboro city Planning Commission conditionally approved a zoning change request for a proposed two-story data center on Burkhalter Road. Developers 4AM Development LLC plan to build the facility on a nearly 27-acre site. The request now moves to the City Council for a final decision on August 18, with local residents having expressed opposition regarding noise, water, and electricity usage.
Statesboro's city Planning Commission has recommended conditional approval for a zoning change essential for a new two-story data center. By a 5-1 vote, the commission supported the request from 4AM Development LLC, which seeks to rezone a 26.94-acre parcel on Burkhalter Road from high-density residential (R-4) to office and business (O).
The proposed data center, expected to have approximately 115,000 square feet per floor, has drawn opposition from local residents. Concerns include potential noise pollution, substantial water and electricity consumption, and environmental impact. The city's data center ordinance, enacted in June, mandates closed-loop cooling systems, city water/wastewater connections, noise limits, an economic impact report, and a decommissioning plan. A separate special use permit will be required if the rezoning is approved.
John Paul Moore of Thomas & Hutton served as agent for 4AM Development LLC, whose owners Bobby Bagwell and Charles C. Way presented the project. The decision now rests with the Statesboro City Council, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on the rezoning request during its August 18 meeting. The article also notes a contrasting approach between the city and Bulloch County, which recently extended a moratorium on data center permits in unincorporated areas until December 31 and is considering an outright ban on such facilities.