Commission Approves Plan for Future Growth, Revises Data Center Ordinance

The Athens-Clarke County Commission held a heated April 7 voting meeting to discuss a proposed Future Land Use (FLU) map and revisions to its data center ordinance. The FLU map, which dictates future development in the county regarding location, density, and zoning, was approved unanimously with changes sponsored by commissioners Melissa Link, Carol Myers, Mike Hamby, and Allison Wright. Discussions included advocating for affordable housing, increasing density in certain areas, and addressing infrastructure concerns, particularly sewer expansion in District 9 due to failing septic tanks. Commissioner Ovita Thornton championed sewer expansion in her district, citing health and environmental risks from neglected septic tanks. However, commissioners Hamby and Wright opposed this, raising concerns about development inducement, gentrification, and costs, especially in the Sandy Creek basin, a key drinking water source. Concurrently, the commission passed an ordinance categorizing data centers as industrial use but immediately directed it back to the ACC Planning Commission for further revisions. Commissioner Myers proposed seven new criteria for data centers, including energy and water consumption plans, closed-loop water systems, regulatory guidance on resource prioritization, size and clustering limits, community benefit agreements, decommissioning plans, and increased property line setbacks. Residents at the meeting voiced strong opposition to data center construction, citing social, environmental, and economic threats. A previously enacted moratorium on data center building remains in effect until June.