Columbia County is gearing up to review what could be its latest zoning categorization: Data Center district (D-C).
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners (BOC) announced during its Sept. 16 meeting that it had directed county staff to work on developing a new zoning district specifically for data centers.
A draft of the new ordinance establishing the zoning district comes in the wake of BOC’s approval in May of the Economic Development Authority of Columbia County’s (EDACC) request to rezone 1,900 acres in Appling to Special district zoning (S-1) to accommodate data centers. EDACC purchased the property, located off Morris Callaway Road and off I-20, in late 2024.
A new zoning would entail an amendment updating Columbia County ordinances, specifically Sections 90-97, 90-98, 90-139 and 90-147.
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The new section of the county ordinance, titled 90-101, defines a data center as “a facility that houses computing and networking equipment, along with storage and management systems, to support the storage, processing, and distribution of digital data and applications.”
The new zoning would also accommodate research and development facilities “that investigate, design, test, and refine new or improved technologies,” substation facilities that convert “higher voltages within or separate from a data center to generate sufficient power at maximum efficiency,” and accessory uses, such as offices and utility storage.
The minimum size allowed for lot proposed for D-C under this draft is two acres, and limits front setbacks to 125 feet from the centerline of the property to an arterial street, 90 feet to a collector street, 20 feet from a service drive and 55 feet from all other streets.
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The proposed ordinance restricts noise levels from such facilities to no greater than 70 decibels, and requires applicants to submit a sound study showing ambient noise levels at the exterior property line.
Testing for generators, which may not be placed near adjacent property or within setbacks or buffers, is to be limited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the work week for no more than two hours a day, and not at all on federal holidays, according to the amendment. The ordinance would also forbid data centers’ use of wells or well water “for any purpose.” Lighting is to be directed away from any adjacent properties.
The draft even accommodates solar power, allowing for roof or ground mounted solar energy systems for accessory use.
While citizen concerns about the data center have grown in recent months, initially, little public input was offered. During the Planning Commission’s meeting on May 1, the date it would review and recommended approval for EDACC’s rezoning request, one Columbia County resident expressed concerns about the development of a data center.
Likewise on May 16, the night the BOC approved the rezoning, one community member attended to voice concerns about the rezoning and prospect data facility development. EDACC’s initial rezoning request.
The Planning Commission is slated to review staff’s draft of the new ordinance during its upcoming meeting on Thursday night, Nov. 6. As many have voiced concern over building data centers since May, this review gives opportunity for more community members to attend and air any remaining, and growing, grievances.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering general reporting for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com
