Residents press Coweta commissioners on proposed data center’s water use, noise and zoning; company says it will comply

Dozens of residents and company representatives spoke during the March 3 Coweta County Board of Commissioners meeting about a proposed large data center project (referred to in the meeting as "Project Sale" or similar names), expressing sharply different views on water use, noise, zoning precedent and economic benefits.

John Hebert, who identified himself as representing ProLogistix, told the board the project team is committed to complying with the county’s data-center ordinance and state environmental standards and said updated water-use projections had been reduced "approximately 95%" from earlier conceptual figures. "The initial conceptual numbers were 6,000,000 gallons per day. Updated projections are 300,000 gallons per day," Hebert said, adding that final engineering and entitlement work will determine exact details such as generator counts and lighting.

Several residents disputed both the need and the location of a large data center in rural parts of Coweta County. Amy Tiber said the initially reported water volumes would have been devastating for local supplies and that the reduced estimate raised questions about transparency: "I don't want my neighbors to be guinea pigs," she said, urging caution and more study. Nicole Beshoux warned that statewide water stress and interstate water politics make additional large withdrawals risky: she said Georgia’s past interstate water litigation and recent drought history warrant careful scrutiny of new high-demand users on the Chattahoochee River.

Speakers raised health and quality-of-life concerns tied to data-center operations: noise from cooling systems and generators, light pollution from security lighting, potential long construction timelines and effects on property values. Jack Stacks said residents want to "keep the West Side of Coweta rural" and urged locating such facilities in existing industrial parks, not adjacent to long-standing homes. Tim Ryan noted that zoning labeled "rural conservation" is intended as a promise to keep areas low-density and said upzoning to heavy industrial sets a precedent that limits future protections.

Not all speakers opposed the project. Alejandro Galamba and at least one other commenter argued for jobs and revenue, saying the county should weigh tax relief and economic opportunity when considering large developments.

The board listened but did not engage in a policy vote on the data center during the March 3 meeting; the meeting’s public-comment rules limited the session to the first 10 sign-ups. The board’s next procedural steps on any rezoning or permits will depend on formal applications, staff reports and subsequent hearings.