Update to an earlier report: This article includes new information about a story we previously covered. Read our earlier report.
Savannah residents, businesses and neighborhood groups have through Nov. 20 to comment on proposed zoning rules that could shape where data centers locate and what standards they must meet. The city released a survey Wednesday; the ordinance remains under development and has not been adopted.
The proposal would amend Savannah’s zoning ordinance to define data centers as a land use and establish development standards for the city. Savannah officials are preparing the amendment with the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission and Chatham County. The city says survey responses will help guide that work.
Mayor Van Johnson said the process should assess what the city’s infrastructure can support and consider the balance between community benefits and potential harm. He also identified public safety, environmental health, quality of life and Savannah’s economic future as issues the decisions could affect.
The draft topics include different categories for minor, major and adapted-reuse data centers, with modified rules for small, low-impact facilities. Public notice and engagement are also under consideration, potentially including a special-use permit process. Possible siting rules would set distances from homes, schools, parks, places of worship, hospitals and other sensitive locations, along with noise and buffer protections.
Other proposed standards address electricity demand and limits on generator use. Water provisions could cover consumption, water-saving cooling systems, stormwater and wastewater discharge, subject to applicable regulations. The proposal also includes application requirements, development-agreement terms, ongoing reporting and plans for safe facility closure.
Emergency planning is another part of the draft. The listed provisions include Savannah Fire Department review of life-safety systems, fire protection, hazard mitigation and emergency response plans. Decommissioning rules could address equipment removal and hazardous materials. Building height, landscaping and buffers are among the design topics, while major data centers could be required to provide community benefits such as infrastructure improvements, reinvestment or other commitments.
The city expects to post a draft in November for public review and comments. Public hearings have not yet been scheduled; the city says it will announce them when dates are set. Officials also plan to meet with business owners, residents and other stakeholders to address questions before the ordinance is finalized.
The amendment document is expected to go to City Council for review and a recommendation for adoption in January 2027. That is a planned next step, not an approval of the proposed rules.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
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