SUBSTITUTE
Public Hearing: YES ? NO ? Department: Planning & Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
COMMISSION DISTRICT(S): All Districts
Application of the Director of Planning and Sustainability to amend Chapter 27 to Establish a Definition, Regulatory Guidelines, and Development Standards for Data Centers in M (Industrial), M-2 (Heavy Industrial), O-I (Office-Institutional), and O-D (Office-Distribution) zoning districts. This text amendment is County-wide.
Body
PETITION NO: D1-2025-0972 TA-25-1247647
PROPOSED USE: Data Centers in M, M-2 & O-I zoning districts.
LOCATION: County-wide.
PARCEL NO.: N/A
INFO. CONTACT: Eva Chauveau, Long Range Planner
PHONE NUMBER: 404-371-2155
PURPOSE:
Application of the Director of Planning and Sustainability to amend Chapter 27 to Establish a Definition, Regulatory Guidelines, and Development Standards for Data Centers in M (Industrial), M-2 (Heavy Industrial), O-I (Office-Institutional), and O-D (Office-Distribution) zoning districts.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: (October 2025) CC-1: Approval; CC-2: Deferral; CC-3: Full-cycle deferral; CC-4: Full-cycle deferral; CC-5: Full-cycle deferral. (August 2025) CC-1: Full-cycle deferral; CC-2: Deferral; CC-3: Full-cycle deferral; CC-4: Denial; CC-5: Denial.
PLANNING COMMISSION: (Nov. 2025) Approval. Sept. 2025) Full-Cycle Deferral.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
PLANNING STAFF ANALYSIS: Planning staff has collaborated with DeKalb County's Watershed Department, Georgia Power, the Atlanta Regional Commission, data center developers, and the public to develop a clear and effective land-use framework for data center development. The proposed ordinance addresses core zoning and development considerations, such as location, compatibility of adjacent uses, noise, water use, and energy consumption, within the County's established land-use authority. The ordinance establishes a necessary regulatory structure to ...
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