Residents urge delay or rejection of DeKalb data‑center rules as officials hear health and water concerns

Dozens of residents packed the county commission chamber on June 23 to press DeKalb County commissioners to postpone or reject proposed zoning rules that would define and regulate data centers.

Public commenters — many from South DeKalb neighborhoods facing multiple proposed campuses — described repeated water main breaks and chronic low pressure in their areas, called for a comprehensive environmental and health impact study, and demanded stronger buffers or outright bans. "We do not want these facilities in DeKalb County," said community organizer Cambria Angarero during the public‑comment period.

Planning staff presented a substitute text amendment that would add a tiered definition for minor and major data centers, require larger buffers from residential zoning (increasing a residential buffer to 750 feet in the latest draft), cap campus size (proposed 1 million square feet of improved land), and require noise, infrasound and water‑use studies for slope and special‑land‑use reviews. Commissioners and staff said the draft represents several rounds of revisions after months of public input, but residents and environmental advocates said the changes do not go far enough.

Commissioner discussion focused on next steps and timing: some members called for quick adoption of clearer rules; others asked for more time and an independent study. After hours of public testimony and debate, the board deferred final action on the text amendment and related funding requests to allow staff, legal and community groups to provide additional analysis and to schedule further committee review.

The commission also heard frequent calls for a longer moratorium on new data‑center approvals. Supporters of studying the impacts urged the board to commission independent third‑party analyses on public‑health, noise, water and air impacts before any land‑disturbance permits are issued. Planning staff and the CEO’s office said they are prepared to provide additional drafts for review and urged a deliberate timetable for follow‑up public hearings.

What’s next: the board deferred discussion and asked staff to return with more detailed reports, including how any independent study would be scoped and funded. Commissioners also signaled that committee stops and public forums will be scheduled to allow more targeted community input before a final decision.