On June 23, the Watson Government Complex was packed as hundreds of Paulding County residents filled the main chambers and overflow rooms to push back against a zoning shift they say would clear the way for mall-sized data centers near established neighborhoods. Protesters showed up with signs and a clear ask: pause approvals and tighten rules on water use, noise, and on-site generators. Organizers warned that the proposed “technology park” overlay could let developers move ahead without the usual rezoning process or the level of public scrutiny residents are used to.
Neighbors told commissioners the move to create technology-park overlay districts felt rushed and poorly noticed, as reported by Atlanta News First. Paulding County’s official meeting agenda backs up how central the issue has become, listing multiple public-participation items tied to data center proposals, including “Data Center on Electric Dam Road” and “Technology Park Overlay District,” that drew a steady line of speakers. CBS News Atlanta captured video of the standing-room-only crowd.
County leaders, for their part, are urging patience and promising openness as they weigh potential development. In a statement to 95.5 WSB, Commission Chair Tim Estes said, “We’re not going to do anything that is going to hurt our citizens,” and stressed that there are currently no new data center applications in front of the commission.
What neighbors fear
Residents laid out a familiar playbook of worries tied to modern server farms: heavy water withdrawals for cooling, the continuous low-frequency hum from chillers and generators, diesel emissions, round-the-clock light and truck traffic, and added strain on local infrastructure. Under Paulding County’s code, applicants for a data center project must submit an analysis of raw water needs before they can get a land-disturbance permit, as reflected in the county ordinances. Opponents argue those protections are too vague on paper and not clearly explained to the public in practice. Local groups have set up pages to track each proposal and coordinate turnout, helping boost both the number of public speakers and signatures at recent hearings.
Why this fight is spreading
The showdown in Paulding is part of a broader regional fight, as metro Atlanta has turned into a national data center hotspot and nearby jurisdictions scramble to update their rules. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has documented the rapid build-out and the mounting political pressure around water, power, and local oversight. DeKalb County recently voted to change how data centers are regulated, a move that has nudged more Paulding residents to pull out zoning documents, read the fine print, and call for clear, enforceable standards before any new project gets the green light.
What's next
Organizers say this was not a one-night show. They plan to keep returning to upcoming planning commission and board meetings, pressing officials to revise the Unified Development Ordinance. Paulding’s online Agenda Center lists the Planning Commission and Board calendars where any future zoning items tied to data centers would appear. County staff say public documents will be posted as proposals move forward, while residents are vowing to keep showing up, recording testimony, and pushing commissioners to lock in stronger protections. For video and raw footage of the June meeting, see the Paulding County Agenda Center and CBS News Atlanta.
