Talbot County Data Center Zoning Rule Struck Down
A Georgia judge voided Talbot County's zoning amendment allowing data centers and hyperscale facilities because county officials failed to provide required notice and public hearings. A related lawsuit challenging Columbus' technology overlay district, which would enable a proposed hyperscale data center, remains pending.
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge John Martin ruled that Talbot County improperly adopted a zoning amendment adding data centers and hyperscale data centers to the county code. The county Board of Commissioners did not refer the amendment to Talbot County Planning or hold the required public hearing, so the amendment was declared void and data centers are not authorized in any Talbot County zoning district under the restored ordinance.
The challenge was brought by WCR, a business owned by Talbot County resident Ronnie Wilson, who said the ruling protected residents who were denied an opportunity to comment. Wilson is also a plaintiff in a separate lawsuit against the Columbus Council over a technology overlay district that could allow the $5.18 billion Project Ruby hyperscale facility in northeast Muscogee County; that case is scheduled for a bench trial in December.