Marietta approves controversial data center rezoning after hours of debate

The Marietta City Council has approved the rezoning for a contentious data center project located near Interstate 75 and Delk Road, following an extensive debate. The 5-2 vote allows the 18-megawatt data infrastructure facility to proceed, despite significant community opposition.

To mitigate concerns, the council imposed several conditions on the developers. These include the installation of silencers, mandatory independent noise testing, and a requirement to avoid using the city's municipal water and wastewater supply. This ensures the facility will not exceed noise limits or place undue strain on existing infrastructure.

Proponents, including the unnamed property owner who plans to convert a self-storage facility, argued that such projects are vital for technological advancement and would position Marietta as a leading tech city. They maintained that the facility would have no anticipated increase in water consumption and detailed measures to minimize noise.

However, opponents vocally expressed concerns, filling Marietta City Hall to argue that the project offers "virtually no positive benefit" to the community. They articulated fears about increased strain on local resources, potential environmental harm, job displacement, and rising utility bills, asserting it would "extract wealth from the community" rather than generate positive returns for residents. The property owner, characterizing the decision as a family matter for a family property, committed to adhering to all special conditions and stated no plans for additional data centers in Marietta.