Residents urge Franklin County commissioners to reject or more tightly regulate proposed hyperscale data centers

Several Franklin County residents used the public-comment period to oppose two proposed hyperscale data centers and to press commissioners for environmental studies, stronger setbacks and clearer information. Speakers argued the projects threaten farmland, local water supplies, emergency response capacity and residents’ health and asked the board not to approve rezoning or permitted-use designations without safeguards.

Multiple residents urged the commission to insist on environmental-impact reviews. Twyla Ashworth asked directly, “Why is not the commission requiring environmental impact studies before approving both data centers?” She also asked whether planning-and-zoning rules might be rewritten to reduce public hearings and who would replace a planning-and-zoning representative currently identified as Mr. McLaren.

Other speakers described local impacts and asked for concrete protections. Nancy K. Watson said she opposes both hyperscale centers and the proposed locations, urged that any future data center be treated as a conditional — not permitted — use and asked for a minimum 1,000-foot setback from residences and nature reserves; she also said an eight-family protest was notarized and delivered to the county clerk. “If data centers are ever built in Franklin County, setback from all residential properties and nature reserves should be at least a thousand ft or more,” Watson said.

Darlene Hog framed the issue as one of food security and environmental risk, telling commissioners, “We cannot eat data or concrete. We cannot survive with polluted air, water or soil,” and asked whether the commission has evacuation plans and how fuel from generators would be prevented from contaminating groundwater.

Residents also raised transparency and procedural concerns. Ann Hayden said the projects are about 2½ miles from her house and described broken links and missing documents on county web pages. Rachel Maxwell said she had tried to contact county staff with no response, invited commissioners to a fire station tour to assess emergency response plans and described a dispute over an environmental deposit: she told the board that the city sought a $20,000 deposit while a developer (Beltline) offered $10,000, a disagreement that prompted a canceled planning-and-zoning meeting and the developer’s application to the county.

Speakers pressed officials about utilities and public-health risks. Thomas Crouch warned that data centers could strain utilities during heat waves, drought or cold snaps and said that interrupted power could become “a public health and safety issue” for vulnerable residents and farmers who rely on water for livestock.

No commissioner made a new commitment for additional environmental study during the public-comment period recorded in the transcript; after public comments concluded, the board proceeded to its scheduled action items. The record shows a strong current of opposition from residents near the proposed sites; commissioners approved several routine orders and a rezoning request later in the meeting.

The commission did not vote that day on a final site plan for the data centers; residents seeking formal protections or study requirements should watch for future planning-and-zoning hearings and any formal zoning changes the commission elects to initiate or approve.