City of Griffin commissioners approve data center ordinance
The City of Griffin Board of Commissioners unanimously approved amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) regulating data centers through special use permits in Planned Industrial Districts. These regulations address issues like size categories, setback requirements from residential dwellings, buffer zones, and noise limits for HVAC units and generators. The move follows a 180-day moratorium enacted in January, set to expire on July 12, to allow for the development of these new rules.
The City of Griffin Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved significant amendments to its Unified Development Code (UDC), establishing new regulations for data center development within city limits. The decision, made at their May 26 meeting, mandates that data centers are no longer permitted as a matter of right but require a special use permit in areas zoned as Planned Industrial Districts (PID).
This regulatory action stems from the city's previous lack of specific data center guidelines, which officials believed left Griffin vulnerable to uncontrolled development. In response, the Board of Commissioners had imposed a 180-day moratorium in January on "technological facilities," including data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations, which is scheduled to expire on July 12. This pause allowed city staff, including Assistant City Manager of Development Services Kelsey Carden and Director of Planning and Development Michelle Haynes, to craft comprehensive rules.
The new ordinance differentiates between minor data centers (up to 10,000 square feet) and major data centers (10,001 to 275,000 square feet), with stricter rules for larger facilities. Notably, campus or "hyperscaler" data centers are explicitly prohibited. The regulations also include specific setback requirements, mandating new minor data centers be 1,000 feet from residential dwellings and major data centers 1,500 feet. Additionally, strict noise ordinances, screening requirements for HVAC units and generators, and limitations on generator testing and use are in place.