Rural Georgia residents say data center rules were passed with no hearing, no warning
Residents in rural Talbot County, Georgia, have filed a lawsuit against county officials, alleging that an ordinance allowing data centers was passed without proper public notice or hearings. The complaint challenges a July 6 vote by the Talbot County Commission, citing concerns about environmental impacts, property values, and due process. The plaintiffs are seeking to invalidate the zoning amendment and prevent the processing of data center permits under the new rules.
Talbot County, Georgia, officials face a lawsuit from residents Ronnie Wilson and Lauren McCarley, along with Wilson's company WCR LLC, who allege the county improperly amended its zoning ordinance to permit data centers. The complaint centers on a July 6 vote by the Talbot County Commission, arguing the text amendment was passed without adequate public notice, a mandatory public hearing, or review by the planning commission, thereby denying residents their due process rights. Five commissioners—Walter Wilson Jr., Kenneth Chapman, Nigel "Anthony" Couch, Franklin Holmes, and Joshua Edlow Buckner—are named in the suit.
The plaintiffs contend that allowing hyperscale data centers on agricultural land could lead to significant negative impacts, including continuous industrial noise, generator emissions, light pollution, increased truck traffic, risks to groundwater and private wells, and a decrease in property values. These concerns are particularly salient in Talbot County, a rural area with a population of 5,709 where most residents depend on well water and the county's comprehensive plan emphasizes farmland preservation. Wilson, whose property is near the Muscogee-Talbot county line, states he was unaware the ordinance change was even on the agenda.
The lawsuit seeks to nullify the controversial zoning amendment, prevent the county from issuing data center permits under the new rules, or compel officials to restart the amendment process with proper public engagement. The complaint also cites potential violations of Georgia's zoning procedures, Talbot County's own amendment process, the Georgia Constitution, the 14th Amendment, and the Georgia Open Meetings Act, noting the ordinance was labeled "version 6," suggesting prior, possibly non-public, discussions. Attorney Jonathan Waters represents the plaintiffs, highlighting the profound impact the data center issue has had on their lives.