Byron-Crawford land dispute over potential data center

The City of Byron and Crawford County, Georgia, are embroiled in a land dispute currently moving towards state-ordered arbitration. The contention centers on approximately 500 acres along Boy Scout Road, which spans both Crawford and Peach Counties. Byron is seeking to annex the Crawford County segment of this property, a move staunchly opposed by Crawford County. The genesis of this conflict dates back to 2017 when Byron and the Boy Scouts of America signed a covenant, stipulating that if the land were ever sold, the new owner would need to petition for annexation into Byron. This covenant was triggered in October 2024 when Landholding company LLC acquired the property. Concurrently, an energy firm named Beltline Energy expressed interest in developing a data center on the site. Although early discussions occurred between Beltline and Crawford County officials, no formal application was ever filed. The new landowner subsequently requested a rezoning of the property from agricultural to industrial, citing their ongoing negotiations with Beltline Energy. Local residents near Boy Scout Road have voiced significant opposition to the proposed data center, particularly raising concerns about potential increases in water and electricity costs. These concerns came to light following open records requests filed by a citizen named Price. Despite attempts to gather official comments, Crawford County commissioners did not respond, and Byron City Hall referred inquiries to its lawyers, who declined to comment. Crawford County formally objected to Byron's annexation attempt through a resolution in November 2025. In response, Byron engaged outside legal counsel. The disagreement has now escalated to state-ordered arbitration, which will determine the legality and feasibility of Byron's proposed annexation.