Statesboro council advances tighter data center rules, approves Kroger and restaurant-related development items
The Statesboro City Council advanced a revised ordinance to implement stricter rules for data centers, which would eliminate hyperscale facilities and mandate special use permits for all future data center projects. Residents voiced concerns about power consumption, water usage, and environmental impacts, prompting discussions on reducing project footprints and requiring closed-loop water systems. The ordinance will proceed to a second reading for further review and public input.
The Statesboro City Council recently advanced a revised ordinance aimed at implementing stricter regulations for data center development within the city. The updated proposal, discussed during its May 19 meeting, significantly tightens controls compared to earlier recommendations from the Planning Commission.
According to City Attorney Cain Smith and Planning and Development Director Justin Williams, the new ordinance would specifically exclude hyperscale data centers, focusing instead on smaller edge facilities capped at 50 acres. It also removes sections pertaining to hyperscale facilities, including their larger setback and buffer requirements. Critically, the ordinance dictates that data centers would no longer be a use-by-right in any zoning district, requiring all future data center projects to undergo a special use permit process for council approval.
During a public hearing, several residents expressed concerns regarding potential power consumption, water usage, and overall environmental impacts of data centers, questioning the city's preparedness for such demands. Mayor Jonathan McCollar addressed these concerns by highlighting the city's efforts, including reducing the maximum project footprint from 200 to 50 acres and mandating closed-loop water systems. He emphasized the city's intent to protect Statesboro's character while still allowing for appropriate smaller data center opportunities. Councilmember Shari Barr, however, raised concerns about the public's limited time to review the revised language before its first reading.
Despite these reservations, the council voted to move the ordinance forward for a second reading, with Councilmember John Riggs affirming that residents would have another opportunity to voice their opinions. The meeting also addressed other development items, including approvals for a Kroger-anchored project and a restaurant near Highway 80, but the data center ordinance remained a central focus.