An item having to do with data centers appears high on the agenda for the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners’ 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, regular meeting. But to be clear, this is the proposed zoning text amendment intended to ban data centers that was “tabled” for roughly 30 days by a 3-2 vote of commissioners Aug. 4.
Since then, during the Aug. 18 meeting, the commissioners heard and discussed a county staff presentation about a different zoning text and map amendment that would allow data centers in specific “overlay zoning” areas, subject to regulations and requirements. But that proposal has not been through the county’s process for amending an ordinance and is not on the agenda for this Tuesday’s meeting.
What is there is the ban amendment, drafted by the staff after commissioners voted 5-0 on May 5, to start such a process. It defines “data center” but then states, in the separate sections defining the General Business, Heavy Manufacturing and Light Manufacturing zones, that each “does not include data centers.” The proposal would also scrub references to “cryptocurrency mining” and related terms from existing zoning ordinances.
The appointed county Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-1 on July 21 to recommend the ban amendment draft for approval, before it was tabled, or postponed, by the elected commissioners two weeks later.
Commissioners could vote to approve or drop this proposed ban, or further postpone a decision.
Meanwhile, their temporary moratorium barring data centers anywhere in the county unincorporated area, initiated in February and extended in May, remains in effect until Dec. 31, 2026, unless the board takes other action.
The pending data center ban amendment is the first of seven zoning items on the commissioners’ Sept. 1 agenda.
Other items
Those follow a public hearing for county abandonment of a segment of unpaved John D. Lanier Road, from U.S. Highway 80 near the Emanuel County line to that county’s Paris Grove Road, at neighboring property owners’ request.
There are also 10 “consent agenda” items, which could be decided on a single motion and vote.
The “new business” agenda includes three items. The first and largest in dollar value is a $193,500 professional services contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates for a corridor study along 2.2 miles of Burkhalter Road toward roadway improvements.