Roswell's City Council voted 5-0 on Monday, July 27, to advance the city's first formal zoning rules for data centers, capping a seven-month moratorium that froze new applications while staff developed regulations from scratch.
The ordinance, approved on first reading, would write a legal definition of "data centers" into Roswell's Unified Development Code and impose binding standards on noise, water use, and energy consumption for any future facility.
A second reading and final vote are expected at the next regular council meeting, Monday, August 10, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 38 Hill Street.
Why Roswell hit pause
When Mayor Mary Robichaux and the council unanimously approved the emergency moratorium on Monday, January 12, no data center projects were pending in the city, according to the city's data center information page. Roswell had zero data-center rules on the books. The moratorium gave staff time to study zoning standards, infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, noise, lighting, and land-use compatibility.
David Davidson, the city's chief legal officer and city attorney, presented the original moratorium resolution. Jeannie Peyton, Roswell's planning and zoning director, leads the department responsible for drafting UDC amendments.
The moratorium was extended twice — first by 95 days on Monday, March 23, then by 90 days on Monday, June 22, pushing the expiration to Sunday, September 20. Staff produced a 27-page white paper on data center impacts, which the Planning Commission reviewed on Tuesday, May 19. The commission held public hearings on Thursday, June 4, and Tuesday, June 16, before the item moved to the full council.
What the rules cover
The council meeting recap published July 28 describes the amendment as setting standards "pertaining to noise, water, and energy consumption." The full ordinance text has not been released publicly, so the specific zoning districts where data centers would be allowed or prohibited remain unclear.
Because the July 27 action was a first reading only, no binding decision has been made. Georgia law requires two readings before a zoning ordinance takes effect.
What comes next
If the council adopts the ordinance on second reading August 10, the new rules would take effect before the moratorium expires September 20. Residents can attend the August 10 meeting at City Hall or monitor the agenda on the city's website.
The data center vote was one of several unanimous actions at the July 27 meeting, which also included approval of a $2.27 million contract for the City Hall roof replacement. As we reported Tuesday, the council also adopted the 2045 Comprehensive Growth Plan at the same session.
