County P&Z recommends data center regs, one rezoning

The Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission held a contentious meeting at Union High School, where they made key recommendations regarding data center development. Protestors, many holding red construction paper, gathered outside and inside the meeting, expressing strong opposition to the projects, chanting "It's not over" after the proceedings. The Commission recommended new data center regulations for Franklin County. Additionally, they recommended rezoning for a specific data center site near Gray Summit, a project proposed by Dallas-based Provident Data Centers. However, a second rezoning request for a property near Pacific, put forward by Atlanta-based Beltline Energy, did not receive a recommendation from the Commission. The meeting required discussion among officials, including County Attorney Mark Piontek, Sheriff Steve Pelton, and P&Z Chair Dan Haire, on how to manage the unruly crowds.