Statesboro Council to hold second public hearing on downscaled data centers law
Statesboro City Council is holding a second public hearing for final approval of a new Data Centers Ordinance. This updated law includes a ban on "hyperscale" data centers larger than 50 acres and imposes stricter regulations on smaller "edge" facilities. The ordinance addresses zoning as special use, utility connections, water management, noise levels, and economic impact reporting.
The Statesboro City Council is set to hold a second public hearing and potentially give final approval to a revised Data Centers Ordinance during its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 2. The decision to hold an additional hearing, a departure from usual procedure, follows significant amendments made by the council during the first reading on May 19.
The most impactful change to the proposed ordinance is an outright ban on "hyperscale" data centers exceeding 50 acres within city limits. The initial proposal, recommended by the city's Planning Commission, would have allowed these larger facilities in certain zones. The revised ordinance now exclusively permits "edge" data centers, defined as facilities on lots not exceeding 50 acres, which may be located in existing structures.
The ordinance, formally known as the "Technological Facilities and Data Center Ordinance," will be an addition to the city's Unified Development Code. It outlines specific regulations across seven sections, including definitions, permitted districts and lot requirements, utility use and allowances, sound generation, screening and aesthetics, and community investment and infrastructure. Key provisions include requirements for special use permits, connection to municipal water and sewer systems, closed-loop water cooling, water management plans, and noise studies to ensure sound levels do not exceed ambient conditions. Developers will also need to provide reports on positive economic impacts and decommissioning plans.
While some council members initially sought to delay the first reading to allow more public review of the changes, a vote moved the proposal forward. Citizen speakers, including Jason McCoy, Virginia Russell from the Tree Board, and David Warren from the Greener Boro Commission, voiced concerns about power consumption, environmental impacts, and the clearing of land. Statesboro officials, including Mayor Jonathan McCollar, noted that the city lacks authority over electrical power usage, which is regulated at the state level by the Public Service Commission and Legislature.