Glynn County to vote on zoning; residents ask to delay data center rule

The Glynn County Commission is scheduled to vote on new zoning ordinances Thursday, which incorporate a contentious section allowing data centers. Despite the county not having received any data center proposals, communications director Brittany Dozier stated the move is proactive, aiming to update industrial and residential regulations for future interest. This proactive stance, however, has drawn strong criticism from residents and environmental groups, who argue the ordinance's language is vague and offers inadequate protections against significant energy and water consumption and minimal economic benefits. Kat Montgomery, South Coast Advocate at One Hundred Miles, expressed concern that the county has not adequately planned for data centers to be "good neighbors." The proposed ordinance includes a 50-foot setback requirement, which critics deem insufficient compared to recommended ranges of 200 to 500 feet from residential areas, and lacks guidelines for noise, water, power usage, and stormwater management. It also sets a minimum lot size of 50 acres, indicating potential impacts on rural areas. The controversy intensified at the Joint Planning Commission on March 18, where members unanimously recommended that the Board of Commissioners remove the data center ordinance from the upcoming vote. They instead urged a 120-day moratorium to allow a working group to develop stronger regulations. This local push for a moratorium contrasts with a recent statewide moratorium that failed to pass in the Georgia legislature, though several other Georgia counties like Bulloch, Decatur, and Monroe have already imposed their own. The county maintains it has adequately promoted the ordinance, with provisions introduced and refined since November 2025, but critics from One Hundred Miles argue data center regulations were not discussed in prior town halls.