Developer seeks rezoning for large South Fulton industrial campus; DRI traffic study pending

Henry Bailey, counsel for the applicant, presented a rezoning request (Z‑26‑001) to change a portion of property fronting Fulton Industrial Boulevard from Suburban A to M‑1 (light industrial) with a business overlay, describing a multi‑building warehouse and distribution campus on about 157.86 acres.

Bailey said the project would be developed in a later phase of a larger master plan and that tenants have not yet been identified because commercial leases typically follow zoning approval. He told the meeting the project is subject to a development‑of‑regional‑impact traffic analysis that was nearing completion and that any required mitigation would be addressed by the developer, with access concentrated on Fulton Industrial Boulevard.

During public comment, resident Sharon Hicks asked what the city would do if a data center tried to locate in the area and use substantial amounts of water. Bailey replied that the current application is for warehouse and distribution space only, that the applicant had no intent to build data centers, and that data centers in South Fulton must obtain a separate special permit with additional regulations the site likely would not meet. "We are not doing that, have no intent on doing that," Bailey said. "In order for us to do a data center on this site, we would have to seek that special permit now."

Bailey also described the site's context: it is "sandwiched between two other industrial uses" within one of South Fulton’s industrial quarters and, he said, the project would help meet regional demand for industrial space.

What happens next: staff said technical and environmental evaluations (including the DRI traffic study) will be used in subsequent hearings; residents may submit questions to the applicant or staff and the item will proceed to the planning commission and later council hearings according to the public participation calendar announced at the meeting.