Athens changes zoning, making it more difficult for data centers to locate in city

The Athens City Council has unanimously approved amendments to its zoning ordinance, making it more challenging for data centers to establish operations within city limits. Mayor Ronnie Marks explained that the city's previous zoning code lacked specific provisions for data centers, leaving the process "pretty wide open." The proactive changes define data centers as a distinct "conditional use" only permitted in the M-2 heavy industrial district, specifically a 74-acre undeveloped area on Wilkinson Street. This designation requires individual projects to undergo a rigorous case-by-case review by the Planning Commission, including public hearings, site plan submissions, and an evaluation of potential impacts on traffic, noise, water, power, and the environment. City Planner Erin Tidwell highlighted that while data centers might outwardly resemble light industrial use, their significant electricity and water demands, low employment, and enhanced security needs distinguish them. Tidwell also warned against outright bans, citing a federal lawsuit against Hawkins County, Tennessee, for violating constitutional clauses by banning data centers. The new ordinance aims to mitigate legal vulnerability by establishing clear, yet stringent, conditions for development rather than a ban.