Effingham County Residents Sue Over Zoning Ordinance That Paved Way for Data Center
Three Effingham County residents have filed a lawsuit against Effingham County, seeking to invalidate a zoning ordinance. They allege the ordinance, which expanded where data centers can operate and paved the way for a 1,400-acre data center, was adopted unlawfully without required public hearings. The suit claims a lack of transparency and secret negotiations, including a nondisclosure agreement with OpenAI OpCo, LLC, surrounding a project known as "Project Camellia."
Three Effingham County residents, Dr. Michelle Finch-Mincey, Lehman Mincey Jr., and Raymond Carver, have filed a lawsuit against Effingham County and its Board of Commissioners. Represented by attorneys Greg Gilluly and Brent Savage, the plaintiffs are asking a Superior Court judge to invalidate Ordinance 2026-352, an amendment to the county's Permitted Use Table that expanded the areas where data centers may operate, allegedly paving the way for a 1,400-acre data center project.
The lawsuit alleges that government officials bypassed legal requirements and the county's own zoning ordinances by failing to hold public hearings before approving the amendment. It claims these actions are part of a "multi-year scheme" to conceal details about "Project Camellia," a multi-billion-dollar AI data center, which was reportedly negotiated in private meetings between corporate executives and local government leaders. The complaint cites a nondisclosure agreement signed by County Manager Tim Callanan with OpenAI OpCo, LLC, further alleging a lack of transparency and conflicted interests in the process. The plaintiffs contend that the county systematically undermined the Planning Board's authority and violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act during a retreat where zoning changes were discussed.