Marietta says no data center hearing scheduled despite online claims
The Marietta City Council clarified that no public hearing on data centers is scheduled for its upcoming meeting, debunking misinformation spread by an opposition website. The website, "Not for us - Cobb County," which advocates against data centers, incorrectly listed a public hearing and called for opponents to wear red as a protest. A data center project at 1751 Bells Ferry Road was unanimously approved by the council a year prior.
The Marietta City Council has issued a statement refuting online claims that a public hearing on data centers is scheduled for its upcoming June 10 meeting. The misinformation originated from a website titled "Not for us — Cobb County," which opposes data center development and incorrectly listed a public hearing as part of the council's agenda.
The opposition website, which a reporter described as appearing AI-generated, urged data center opponents to wear red as a visual protest, despite speaking slots being limited. It also cited concerns about energy, water, noise, and health impacts associated with data centers. However, the City of Marietta confirmed that no town hall, public hearing, or council discussion item concerning data centers is on the agenda.
While no specific hearing is scheduled, citizens are still permitted to address the council on any topic, including data centers, during the unscheduled appearance portion of the meeting, with each speaker allotted five minutes. This clarification comes approximately a year after the Marietta City Council unanimously approved a data center proposal located at 1751 Bells Ferry Road.