Data Center Census

Athens, Athens-Clarke County, GA

Old Elberton Road data center proposal

Also known as FAE Clark LLC rezoning

DeniedRezoning unanimously denied October 7, 2025
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating
  6. Denied

A request to rezone about 200 to 233 acres of greenbelt farmland on Old Elberton Road in north Athens-Clarke County for about 2 million sq ft of industrial buildings, which press widely described as a potential hyperscale data center. The Mayor and Commission unanimously denied the rezoning on October 7, 2025. Athens-Clarke planning officials said the requested zoning does not permit data centers, even though some filed documents suggested one.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Site size233 acres [1]
Now Georgia reported ~200 acres
Floor area2 million sq ft [1]
across four buildings
Buildings4 [1]

Local decisions & site

ZoningRequested rezoning of 0 Old Elberton Road from Agricultural Residential (AR) to Employment Industrial (E-I); denied [5]
request also sought to change the future land use classification from rural to employment center
Source excerpt
“0 Old Elberton Road from an agricultural residential (AR) to an employment industrial (E-I) property”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. Athens-Clarke Planning Commission unanimously recommends denial of the Employment-Industrial rezoning [3]

  2. Athens-Clarke Mayor and Commission unanimously deny the rezoning [1]

  3. Commissioner Melissa Link calls for a data center moratorium after the denial [2]

Issues raised

  • Neighbors cited loss of the greenbelt's agricultural character, harm to natural resources, and safety of nearby Coile Middle School students [3]
  • Commissioners said the request lacked definitive plans; the end user was never disclosed [1][2]
  • Planning officials said the development 'would not become a data center if approved' under the requested zoning [3]

Sources

  1. Permission denied to data center in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, talks of a potential moratorium
    DatacenterDynamics · Oct 27, 2025 · news
  2. Commissioner Link calls for moratorium on data centers after potential hyperscale project denied
    WUGA · Oct 21, 2025 · news
  3. ACC Planning Commission recommends denial for greenbelt rezone
    Now Georgia · Sep 10, 2025 · news
  4. Athens commission calls for moratorium on data centers after potential hyperscale project denied
    Now Georgia · Oct 21, 2025 · news
  5. ACC Mayor and Commission discuss rezoning, SPLOST at regular session
    The Red & Black · Oct 8, 2025 · news