A town hall meeting at the Hamilton Crossing Senior Center on Wednesday evening did nothing to change the minds of those concerned about a proposed data center on Barnsley Road in Adairsville.
“Once this is approved, they can do anything they want,” said one citizen as a group talked about their concerns with attorney Brandon Bowen, representing Atlas Development seeking a rezoning proposal.
The Bartow County Planning and Zoning Board is scheduled to hear a rezoning request on April 28. The request is to rezone the 588 acres owned by native Adairsville resident Darin Hardin from agricultural to industrial. Hardin and Atlas Development officials were at the meeting to answer questions.
Bowen said the company proposing the data center can’t automatically change course once zoning is approved. Bartow County officials from boards to the county commissioner will need to approve any changes.
The proposed data center will consist of six buildings with green space around it at the address of 0 Barnsley Road. The buildings will be 3,200 feet or .75 of a mile from the main road. Large, vacant lots of 30 to 33 acres surround much of the property with homes beyond those. One home is next to the property on one corner near a creek. The data center is projected to be completed in 2031.
Data centers blossoming on open land around the country. They hold cloud storage needed by new tech ranging from cell phones to AI.
Bowen said the data center is a massive industrial win for Bartow County because it will increase the tax base and amount to more tax revenue. That will come in Atlas Development paying increased property taxes but also paying taxes on equipment it will purchase and replace over the years.
An estimated 1,700 people signed a petition to stop the data center. Citizens drifted in and out of the informal town hall where several officials were available with drawings to answer questions and concerns. There was a flow of around 20 people throughout the two-hour public session. Most live in the Adairsville area.
Concerns ranged from noise production, lower property values, and how the additional need for water and electrical power will affect county infrastructure and power bills. One big concern is whether the center will be an unattractive addition to the area close to the resort Barnsley Gardens.
Citizens attending didn’t want to be named or interviewed, but they had plenty to say about the proposal. One resident said that part of the county has always been a recreational area with Barnsley Gardens as the focus. He feels the data center will turn it into an industrial area that would threaten the aesthetics and quality of life for everyone.
People also fear the company buying more land to expand in the future and putting more buildings on the property after it gains approval for the current proposed project.
Bowen, Hardin, and Atlas Development officials answered concerns by citing the company’s intentions. Bowen said the county ordinance limits noise between 5 and 65 decibels. Hardin said there are no plans to purchase other property as this plan was what he called overplanning for the future. Yet, he admits there is no prohibition against buying property later.
Bowen also said the area already has the infrastructure to produce the required power for the data center. Georgia Power must be able to supply adequate energy for the build to happen, he said. He said it would use limited water.
Georgians have been left reeling over Georgia Power getting PSC approval for rate increases in recent years. One of the reasons given for rate increases is that the power company giant must improve its infrastructure to provide the power needed for numerous data centers being proposed and built in the state. Read more about that issue here.
Citizens remain unconvinced that local residents won’t be adversely affected even after talking to officials. Many said there are no guarantees that those proposing the data center will abide by promises and statements made at the town hall. They fear approving it will open a Pandora’s box that can’t be stopped.
Melody Daring is the former news director of Adelphia Channel 4. She is currently a freelance writer for many publications in the U.S., Canada, and the UK.