County Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

And everyone. Rock meeting 03/12/2026 at 6PM opening up the meeting we'll call the meeting to order at this time Okay. The first item on the agenda that we will have is the invocation. So let everyone stand for the invocation.

Let us take a moment to reflect on our purpose here tonight. We gather with a shared commitment to the well-being of our community. May we be granted the wisdom to make just decisions, the courage to act with integrity, and the patience to listen to one another. Let us work together in harmony with a focus on service to all citizens. May our efforts tonight bring peace and progress to Rockdale County. Amen. Amen.

Now for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Will staff please roll call at this time for determination of quorum?

Yes. Ernest Stan Stovall Goolsby Angelique McClendon here Danny Forrester

here

John Lee Peterson junior

here

Marlecia Nancy Nancy here okay

okay is present. So the next item on the agenda is for the approval of the minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes that's presented here from our last meeting? Agenda rather. Do I have approval for the agenda?

I make the motion to approve the agenda that's presented to us.

Second. Okay.

All in favor say

aye. Aye.

All opposed? The motion carries. Next item on the agenda is approval of the minutes. Okay. From the 01/08/2026 Planning Commission meeting.

Okay. We need a motion for the approval of the minutes.

Motion for approval of the minutes. Second.

Okay. All in favor state by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. The motion carries.

Okay. The next item on the agenda is the public hearing rules as stated on the recording. Tonight's agenda includes several public hearings. As a reminder, when speaking, please come to the podium, speak directly into the microphone, and state your name, address,

or the record. We encourage speakers with similar viewpoints to designate a spokesman. Please direct your comments to the Planning Commission. We ask that speakers remain respectful so that everyone have the opportunity to be heard.

Speaker must sign their name to the appropriate zone

Each

speaker must sign their name to the appropriate zoning case sheet and fill out a public comment card to register your intent to speak prior to the start of this meeting. Each item of business shall be handled in order that it appears on the agenda unless upon motion of the planning commission, the order is changed. A member of the planning staff will present each item to the planning commission and will further provide recommendation upon each item of business. The zoning applicant or the agent will state their name and address at the podium and will have ten minutes in which to make his or her presentation. Any portion of their ten minutes may be reserved for rebuttal following the opposition to the application.

After the applicant's presentation, all registered speakers who wish to speak in favor of the application will then be heard. Prior to speaking upon the item, each registered speaker will state their name and address at the podium. They will also be limited to a total of ten minutes. Once the applicant has made his or her presentation and the speakers in favor of the application have been heard, the secretary will then call upon the registered speakers in opposition of the application. The opposition shall likewise be limited to a total of ten minutes.

Once the public hearing portion is closed, no other speakers will be heard. As a reminder, speakers are to address the planning commission, not the applicant or the audience, and are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. The use of abusive or profane language shall not be allowed. No debate or argument between speakers shall be permitted. After all public comments have been heard, the planning commission may elect to hold general discussion.

The planning commission will vote upon a recommendation that will continue forward to the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners public hearings. Each speaker must sign.

Okay. The first item under the new business is item r one CUP twenty twenty five dash zero two, a special quest for special use permit to allow an in home daycare. I'll ask the staff to present the staff report.

Good evening, Planning Commission. My name is Ryan Sadler, and I am presenting CUP twenty twenty five dash zero two. The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to allow the operation of a daycare, family daycare home with at least three children, no more than six children within the R 1 zoning district. This application has been withdrawn. The applicant was made aware that the HOA, does not allow home based businesses of that nature. So the applicant did withdraw. So I would ask that you accept this withdraw and we can move on to the next case.

So do we need to make a motion to withdraw this

okay sorry

John you still have to open the public hearing regardless so if you just want to open the public hearing and then ask for comments

okay I would now open the public hearing on this particular item are there any comments anyone wish to speak in favor opposition

and nobody signed up

nobody signed up okay send in no further speakers I close the public hearing do we have any discussions on this item I don't think we do Do we have a motion on this item?

I make a motion to accept the withdrawal of CUP twenty twenty five dash zero two.

I second. Okay. Let's take this to vote. All in favor state by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed nay. The motion carries. Okay the next two items are related requests from quick drop towing and recovery staff will present both items together but but the Planning Commission will vote on each item separately I'll ask staff to present the staff report.

Okay. So, for case number REZ2025Dash12 and the flume which is the future land use map amendment twenty twenty five dash, zero six. And this is the applicant for the quick drop tolling. Again, this applicant staff recommends deferral of this case to allow additional time for review. The applicant has retained legal counsel to represent them, and staff would like additional time to, address the specifications of the property and, details of the application with the applicant's attorney.

So, for these two cases, staff recommends deferral, for these cases so that we can work towards and work with the attorney as well. Again, the same kind of process will be for like the withdraw for this deferral as well.

Okay do we have a public hearing for this here for the any speakers in favor of opposition of this item no okay saying that there are no further speakers I would close the hearing we need to motion to defer this item

yes I

make a motion we defer the item councils staff's recommendation

okay miss McClendy can you please state that which item? Make

a motion that we defer items R2 and R3 based on staff's recommendation

can we

do it together you want us to do it separately we

have to do it separately make

a motion that we defer item r two based on staff's recommendation

second okay all in favor by state by saying aye opposed motion carries for the permit next item r three

I make a motion that we accept the deferral for r three f l u m future lanes map 2025 Dash 06 okay

let's take for a vote all in favor state by saying aye any opposed nay this motion carries Okay.

Thank you. No problem.

The next on the agenda the next four items are related to the proposed data center campus are requested by acquisition LLC staff will present the items together and we will hold one public hearing for all four cases the public the Planning Commission will take separate votes on each item I'll ask the staff to present to staff reports.

Alright.

I'm Bill Spivey. I'm the senior planner. And this is item number four, which is okay. Rezoning 2025 dash o '8 and dash 11 and flume twenty twenty five zero three And 0 five. What the rezoning request is to rezone 282.15 acres from CRS, which is collaborative residential subdivision to general commercial M 2, excuse me, industrial,

sorry,

to permit the construction of a data center campus consisting of seven buildings with a total square footage of plus or minus 29 on a 2,900,000 square feet. The future land use map request to amend the future land use map category of the subject properties from low density residential agriculture and medium density residential to technology park to permit the construction of a data center campus of a prop of approximately 282 acres. At this point, the applicant has requested a deferment of both cases until May 2026.

Okay so there's no public hearing on this item

Chairman yes we do still have to open the public hearing and the applicant gets a chance to speak as well if they're here and would like to

Okay I open up the public hearing at this time for anyone that would like to speak in favor or oppose in opposition of this item

in favor we have one person signed up one Alvere

okay there was another one over here

in favor

oh okay

okay doctor Linda Aiken Jung no you're listed on both papers that's what I was asking so not in favor in opposition okay so that was our only speaker One, are you here to speak?

There's a little right here.

There's someone. Got the hand and ring.

We're not to opposition yet. So this is in favor. Yes. Favor. In favor? In favor. Alright. So now we'll move to opposition. So, let's see. I have Doctor Linda Aiken Jung signed up in opposition. And you can begin the clock for the forty minutes.

Okay.

We still have to hold the public hearing regardless business item on the agenda. So, we can. Presenting a No, they're not here to present tonight because they are requesting a deferral but we still have to open it up for a public hearing during this process and then, if they are granted the deferral to come back in May, then, we'll hold another public hearing at that time where the applicant will be here to present at that time.

Okay. I'll defer to May. Mhmm. Yeah.

That's the wish of the applicant. So as long as planning the that's the planning commission's recommendation, and then the board of commissioners will receive that recommendation at the second read on April 14. And at that time, they'll make the decision if they'll allow the referral back to Planning Commission for the May PC, but they get to make that decision at the second read. So you could also come to the second read to make public comment at that time.

So if we're not signed up, we can't make any public comment today?

You can. You still just have to sign up if you'd like to.

I would be Yeah. We have this. Do do we know why wanna

pass that. They just seem to sign up. Is

is there a reason for the deferral?

The applicant has more stuff they need to do at our place.

Can I ask a question too? Will the applicant be able to hear? Since this is recorded, will he he has the option to hear what's being said today?

Yeah. And they had the option to be here too. So Okay.

Yes. But they decided not. Okay. To

so to make this clear, we they're they're speaking on r four and r five only. Correct?

No. This is for r five r four, r five, r six, and r seven. They have four applications in

Right.

For rezoning and flume for a total of approximately 283 acres.

Okay. So all Yeah.

It just was two different application processes because of the acreage or the different times they send in their applications.

But we are voting separate on all four items.

I'm sorry?

We are we are voting separate on all

four item, you still have to vote separately to recommend deferral. Yes.

Okay. Thank

you. Yeah. It's okay. We'll get this.

Clarifying question.

Just for this. This is specifically for and or for or against the items r four, r five, r six, and r seven.

Okay. Alright. You go ahead. This is four. No. No. Opposition. Opposition.

Opposition. Okay. Hi. Good evening, council members. Please forgive me.

This is my first time doing something like this and speaking in public in this capacity, capacity, so please give me some grace. I've also got it written down so I don't forget what I was intending to say. So my name is Amanda Kirkland, and I am here in the capacity of concerned Rockdale County resident. Over the last few months, I've been attempting to closely follow the developments of these data centers in our area with great concern. Previously rezoned projects such as the 72 acre DC Blocks data center site that neighbors this project have been approved for rezoning with very little input from the the public.

So I'm pleased to have the opportunity to speak with you all tonight. I, as well as many of my fellow residents, have quite a few questions and concerns about the impact of data centers on our community that I believe deserve clear answers from independent sources. To date, it seems that our council has been satisfied with having our questions responded to by the developers themselves, their lawyers, their public relations team, and their marketing people of these multimillion dollar corporations. And respectfully, I find that unacceptable. Tonight, I am formally requesting that this council place a moratorium on rezoning approvals for any data center project to allow time to study and update zoning codes to address the specific realities of the data center industry and its impact on our community.

In January, our neighbors in DeKalb County passed an amendment to their zoning regulations called the DeKalb County data center text amendment. Its purpose being to ensure that the significant land, energy, and water consumption by these facilities does not negatively impact community. Their staff conducted extensive research into data centers and held discussions with community partners to find a balance between economic development and the welfare of the community. Judging by the turnout tonight and response in the community in general to what is happening with data centers, it's clear to me that as our residents learn more about these data centers, we have valid questions and concerns about the impact of these developments, not only on property values, access to clean water, noise, and light pollution, but we also have concerns about transparencies about what tax incentives these companies are receiving in relation to their unknown longevity. So in summary, I'm asking that the council consider a moratorium on any rezoning decisions until such questions can be addressed with the appropriate amendments to our zoning ordinances so as to address the specific issues associated with data center developments in our community.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you. Okay that was the only opposition to the this

morning okay

Linda Akins Young, did you still want to speak or you'll save your comments, you said? I'll save mine. Okay. William Stanley Lee.

I'll save mine.

Okay. You can come to the podium.

What do

say? Say.

Oh, say. I'm sorry. I thought you said say. Amanda Kirkland? Oh, that was you. Sorry, Amanda.

Arnold? Okay.

My name is Carl Blashley. I live in Lake Brie Estates. My only real question about this thing, and there should be more study about it, these data centers take a huge amount of electricity. Our infrastructure is pushed to capability at night, especially the electricity. There needs to be a lot more study before we put something like this in of how our infrastructure is going to do it and what it's going to do to the effect, the pricing, electricity in this county. And that's there just needs to be more study about electricity use. That's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

We

had one more person signed up. Oh, concert. I apologize. I couldn't read your name properly. So, if you'd like to state it for the record.

Yes, I have a question. We speaking on the deferral or the issue itself?

Both. Either.

Evening, everyone. My name is Paul Stalkup. I live at 2066 Monterey Drive here in Rockdale County. That's in Lake Capri. I have some questions and some input.

The initial question I would have regarding the underlying request for approval by the LLC is what if any tax breaks have been given to this corporation? And if there have been any, I'd like to know why. My understanding is that once the construction is completed, if the if the request is approved, is that there will be very few people working at the establishment. So during construction, obviously, there'd be quite a few people. But based upon my readings and understanding of these data centers, does takes very few people to run them once they're up and running.

The one issue initially that I would have would be the water that these places need to run. Rockdale County Water has a maximum production of 22,000,000 gallons a day. The average is eight to 9,000,000 gallons a day. And the peak use has been 12,000,000 gallons. The average resident uses 51 to 70 gallons, and this is all based on Rockdale County water.

We currently have a population of a 100,000 people. If you multiply that by the 50 gallons a day, the minimum, we're talking 5,000,000 gallons a day. I do not know how many megawatts that the data center is going to produce. I don't know if the county commission knows. I don't know if the planning commission knows.

But the very minimum data center use is 15 megawatts, which would equal 360,000 gallons of water every day. If you go up to 100 megawatts, that's 500,000 gallons a day. We're talking now about a couple of thousand households. I do not know how much water usage has been requested or anticipated by LLC. Additionally, I do not know and I would like the Planning Commission to let the people of Rockdale County know how much electricity this place is going to use.

They require a significant amount of electricity And based upon prior experience of the data centers around the country, electricity rates and bills for residents increase significantly based upon the usage of the data centers. I also I know it's bad to assume, but I assume that the the battery energy source system storage system, which is on for today, but not at this point, is related to the data center. And I'll get to that, I guess, when I speak on the on the battery energy storage system. We don't need this. One of them, as far as I'm aware, slipped by the one that's on Farmer Road now.

I know nothing about them. How much water they use, how much electricity they use, how many people they employ, what safety they have, nothing. But it's open. I guess it's running now far as I'm aware. And I guess I'll reserve the rest of my time for rebuttal if it's needed. And we're also going to have something on the battery system. Right? Okay. I'll reserve that for battery system. I'll just stay back here. May I stay back here rather than bothering all those people?

Oh, it's okay. Yeah.

Thank you.

We do have little comment. Okay. Yeah. So, if you just want to you do have one comment that was sent in by Email and so the commission has that comment. Chairman, you can read that comment or just state the name for the record in opposition

okay I'll just state the name for opposition was the data center the one on the data center coalition

no the one that is from ME Shepherd.

Was m e shepherd.

And she's located on Lake Rockaway Road for the record so no more comment you can close the public hearing and make a motion

okay chairman Peterson before you make that before you go into your motion just one clarification for the public and so the board of commissioners did pass and adopt a moratorium on data centers that was approved on January 24 and that moratorium extends until 07/13/2026 so during that time period we've been tasked to explore the issue, gather information, find out about best management practices, and make that a part of our UDO update as a text amendment to the code.

Did you want to make comment during public hearing?

I just want to make a comment.

Okay. Are you signed up? We just need your you to sign up and state your name and your address for the record during the public hearing. But you can.

Yeah. That's good that we have moratorium. I would request that some of the people

that Could you state your name?

Name is Ellen Jocquist Lee. I live at 1848 Farmer Road Conyers Georgia.

Thank you.

I would like to ask that in all due respect that you come out to those people that live on Farmer Road, that live beside that data center and ask us questions. Don't go out and see what's going on in other states, find out what's going on right here in Conyers, Georgia. Thank you.

Alright seeing no further speakers, will close the public hearing at this time. Do we have any discussion on this item for those items for the deferment? If not, we'll go ahead and go vote on those items.

I just wanted to say this real quick. I don't know if the audience know it's clear because we said we have moratorium that's in place right now. But I just would like if you guys state as to why we're having these on the record is because it was already the applicant was already as it was explained to me these applications was already pending so that's why we had to, I'm not sure if the audience knows that as to why we're

Correct. Yes. So the reason these four applications are on the agenda they were submitted before the moratorium was adopted by the board of commissioners and so it allows for these applications to proceed with only the the rezoning application process and the future land use amendment process. The moratorium does not allow for any building permits, any land disturbance permits, any other approvals, or for us to accept any other applications starting 01/24/2026 so they're allowed to proceed with this process but they won't be able to go beyond this point until the moratorium expires yes this process yes

Okay if there's no further comments on this item we'll move this to a vote the item the first item is r four we need a motion for deferment of this item

I move to be deferred item R four r EZ twenty twenty five dash zero eight I requested

I second

okay all in favors aye

Aye.

Those opposed, nay. The motion carries for the deferment. The next item, item r five.

I make a motion that we defer our item r five FLUM2025Dash o three.

I second.

Second. Okay. All in favor state by saying aye.

Aye

those opposed nay motion care for our five care for deferment next item r six

I make a motion that we defer item r six r e z twenty twenty five dash 11.

I second.

Okay. All in favor state by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed nay. Deferment carried on item r six next item r seven

I move item r seven f o u m twenty twenty five dash zero five deferred as requested second

okay all in favor state by saying aye for this deferment

aye

those opposed nay motion carries for deferment okay now I need clarification on REZ two zero two five dash eight on that particular item was that part of this this was part of it so we need to vote on this would make a motion on this one

also no separate the first one you made a motion

okay alright

yeah

okay thank you okay let's move to the next item on the agenda

r eight r

eight eight okay on r eight on the agenda that was for the request by Zorale LLC to rezone one partial total in 49 acres located at 2002 Rockbridge Road. Correct? For a single family residential.

Okay.

This is case number is REZ2025Dash13 and future land use map amendment twenty twenty five zero seven. The address is 2002 Northwest Rockbridge Road. Tax parcel ID is 0210010008. The site area is 48.48 acres. The current zoning is r one, single family residential.

The existing conditions, the proposed site is undeveloped except for Georgia Power utility easement running diagonally across the property. The applicant is requesting to rezone from R one to M two, which is, general industrial to permit the construction of a battery energy storage system or as we call it a best. And the future land use request is to check to amend the future land use map from medium density residential to technology park to permit the construction of the Panola Woods battery energy storage system on 48.48 acres. Alright. Oops, sorry.

Already covered this. Okay. The subject site is 48.48 acres with approximately 548 feet of road frontage along Northwest Rockbridge Road. The site is undeveloped and forested except for the Georgia Power easement that cuts across the property. This is the zoning map.

As you can see, it's surrounded by R 1. Approximately seven acres or 14 of the proposed 48.48 acre site shall be developed. The remaining approximately 41 acres is staying undeveloped and forested and could be utilized for hiking trails, dog park, or other passive eco friendly uses. Measured from east to west, the proposed site is approximately 3,500 feet wide or point six seven miles measured from north to south. The proposed site is approximately 3,000 feet or point five seven miles.

The proposed site is as we know 48.48 acres and the best will itself will use a total of 14% or seven acres of the site. The applicant is requesting a future land use designation of Technology Park which is more in line with the current data center campus under construction to the South and the Rockford site which is east of this site. The subject site currently has a future land use designation of medium density residential and surrounded by properties with similar future land use designations except to the south, which is designated as office institutional and used as a data center. That's DC Blocks, the one that's currently under construction. And to the East of the property is designated medium density residential, but the property is currently a Georgia Power substation, which is allowed.

Additionally, the amendment to the future land use plan supports various of the 2023 comprehensive plan, including economic development, preserves natural resources, and the future land use designation of Technology Park, which incurs data processing in those those uses. This is the site plan. Will discuss this further with everyone. On summary, the applicant is requesting to rezone 48.48 acres from single family residential to general industrial to permit the construction of a battery energy storage system or pests. Additionally, the applicant is requesting to amend the future land use map for medium density residential to technology park.

Recommendations is based on staff's evaluation of the request. The Department of Planning and Development is not making a recommend recommendation to the applicant's request to amend the future land use map designation of the subject properties for medium density residential to technology park until the concerns of Rockdale County Fire Rescue have been addressed. That's the future land use. Next, for the rezoning, after an evaluation of the current zoning standards, the Department of Planning and Development is not making a recommendation at this time for the applicant's request to rezone the subject property from r one to general industrial until it until it takes care of its issues with the fire department. Now and that's it.

Nick, your turn.

Good evening, members of the planning commission. My name is Nick Lynn. I'm assistant chief of fire rescue.

I service

tenants fire marshals. So I was asked to speak on this tonight due to the uniqueness of this project. Speak a little louder. I'm sorry. You. Again, like many other people in the audience, I do not have good public speaking in my portfolio. So tonight is training as well. Mhmm. So so the best, battery energy sir storage system. Again, we talked about the purpose this briefing is to give you all a little bit of history of where we are and present what what the code has came to today, why safety matters.

And, we're gonna focus on outdoor installations. We have some examples in here for indoor, but the the proposed property is for out reef only. So what is the best? It's a battery energy storage system. It's a large scale lithium ion containers, and it's used for grid stability, peak shaving, and renewables. I'm actually gonna back up just one minute. All the pictures in here have no relation to the proposed project. They're just general, pictures off the Internet. I do wanna state that the fire marshal's office does not oppose or in favor of any project. All we are is make sure that it meets the minimum standards set forth by the Georgia Fire Commissioner.

Okay. And then continued on. We talked about the what is best alright. So potential for fire and health risks. Again, these have a history of thermal runaway events, so they possible release of toxic gas and particulates and potential community responder exposure.

So these every fire has potential for this. This specific build has a little bit more due to the container of the batteries in it. But every structure fire, every car fire is gonna release the same thing. So thermal runaway. So the best thermal runaway is a dangerous self sustaining chain reaction where battery cell overheats, rapidly releasing energy causing it to ignite, spread fire heat to adjacent cells in a cascading domino like effect.

The uncontrolled heat buildup often triggered by internal faults, overcharging or damage can create immense temperatures, release toxic gases, and fluoride create fire's physical dose damage. Again, as you can see, the fire actually starts in the middle of it and it spreads out. So once it starts, there's no way to really contain it. It makes it difficult to extinguish until it starts getting to the exterior cells. We have flaming versus non flaming events.

So the non flaming events can have a lower plume buoyancy and possible longer duration exposure concern. Again, until the fire gives it the heat to push it up, the lower it stays. Some of the key hazards identified you can see is the hydrogen fluoride, the hydrogen chloride, nitrogen, the particulate metals, the lithium, the nickel, and then all elements can be considered toxic. Again, these are no normal. The technology that they're using, we'll get to that slide in a second, all these will not be found in the battery.

It's some of them. Them. So for the community impact, you have the nonflaming scenarios produce the largest distances. So hundreds of meters possible, this is determined by the wind, terrain, weather, that kind of stuff depends on where it pushes it. And then the wind speed and duration are the key drivers that move it around.

So environmental impacts, air monitoring for gases is something we'll probably we will do evaluation potential soil or surface contamination and then assessment of fire water runoff or suppression issues. If we do do extinguishment which a lot of them don't recommend, they say let it burn to completion but if we do use suppression effort we'll have to check for that. This is a couple of history, so the McKinnon Energy Storage Facility. This was a 2019 lithium ion best incident resulted in delayed defragation event. Thermal runaway initiated internally without external fire exposure.

Flammable gas communication led to exposure upon firefighter entry. Most firefighters were injured. Key lesson, these buildup gas hazard persists and ignition can can be delayed and then the fire marsh takeaway was interior operation present unacceptable risk, again they're building these outdoors, there's no way to enter this facility, these are all outdoor containers. The Moss Landing energy storage facility, this was in California, multiple best fire events with multi day burn duration, fire spread beyond initial units despite separation distances, repeated re ignition observed after apparent fire control and then they had large scale evacuation due to toxic smoke concern. Again, this was a very large facility, it was indoors and it was flaming a bit.

Key fire marshal separation of water supply must exceed minimums. So this leads us into the testing that has been created. So these are past events that led to the creation of the new codes, current codes that we follow and adopt. So the UL 9540A is the ANSI Canadian UL standard test method for evaluating the fire and explosion rates from thermal runaway and battery energy storage systems. It provides all the data we need to make sure that these are meeting the safety standards built for the community and they are they are presenting that all their containers meet the UL ninety five forty a.

NFPA eight fifty five, this is the National Firefighter Protection Association. They set all the standards for us. These are formed by committees nobody's paid for this committee it's all people from the general public, the vendors, the builders they all come together so it's a standard for the installation and storage energy systems, provides mandatory requirements for safety designing. These are the codes we follow when doing plan review for these types of builds. In '55, sorry, in FPA 55 and the IFC fire warning thermal runaway initiation.

Again, list and test the ESS configuration required, make sure the propagation of fire behavior, it has things in there for explosion control and for flammable gas accumulation. Continued ohm, it talks about the fire growth, heat release and escalation, separation protection based, protection based on realistic fire behavior. It's a suppression is required but not assumed to extinguish, again difficult to extinguish. Then this goes into the NFPA eight fifty five, six eighty and six ninety along with IFC, the gas generation explosion overpressure talks about gas detection prior to ignition, ventilation to prevent gas accumulation, explosion control when credible, deflagration then required, emergency responders signage. Again, these are all the codes we have to follow to make sure they're meeting the standard.

It also talks about separation distances. They can only be reduced when they meet the 9540A test, prevent cascading failures and continuing on community and life safety impact. So exposure and public separation, it talks about public safety coordination, property line and public waste separation and control areas. So suppression reality, what water does. Again, first one is fire suppression required. Sometimes it's not. They recommend us to take a defensive tactic, stand back and let it burn to completion. The NFPA 55 says water cools exposures, it does not stop the runaway. We cannot stop that. It's gonna go till it extinguishes itself.

It's in the water supply required. And then from what we've learned from post incidents is it can take tens of thousands of gallons and re ignition is common during the thermal runaway. So eight fifty five firefighter safety for us, it requires them to have fire department communication or coordination. The emergency response plan must be realistic to tactics. It requires emergency planning for us, firefighter safety's address and again this was post incident from the surprise and McMicken explosion and gas hazards, this is where these codes originated.

Again, emergency response planning site specific, it touches on the fire explosion gas and ignition addresses and then it has to have specific planning with us. So the lithium ion phosphate, this is the technology they are presenting in their build. It's a safer battery technology versus the older. They're using it newer, probably twenty years old but they started using it in the last five to ten years. So it's a safer long lasting and cost effective lithium ion battery chemistry using iron phosphate.

They have a lower energy density in other lithium types but offer greater durability and safer by resisting overheating. The key difference between the older NMC and NCA cells, the older ones had a much higher thermal runaway, no oxygen release, lower heat release rate and then they greatly reduced the explosion potential. So lessons learned, post incident codes follow incidents, they do not prevent them. We've learned a lot, a great deal from the previous, fires we've had and then code compliance does not equal the risk elimination. Okay?

Question?

I do. I just have one in regards to the runway. Just my own knowledge. Just wanna know.

Yes, ma'am.

Does it jump from container to container or is it just burned within the the unit that the cell is in?

So if the fire propagates and gets into the next container, it will continue to burn

to that.

In the

same matter from inside to inside the cell. Okay. That's all. I just I needed to understand that piece. Okay.

I I

have a question too. Because they expressed that they weren't gonna be utilizing the entire acreage. They're only gonna use like 15% of the the amount of acreage that they have there, if I'm if I'm recalling

it correctly.

Seven acres I think. 14 acres. What? So,

if it is the remaining acreage, since it's it's all this contamination or it could be contaminated, could be have runaway and they said, oh, we're gonna use it for dog parks, we're gonna be utilizing for other things, people can go on walking trails with is that a safe environment? I'm just asking. That Is a safe environment being that close to a battery operation? I mean, I

I just like I said, I

just wanna know from my knowledge, how safe is that if you walk your dog, you you know, you you go on you you you go up that walking trail daily that close to that battery facility, you know?

Unfortunately, I can't answer that because it all depends on conditions, runoff, how big the fire is, if it's a low if it's a non flaming event, flaming event. There's lots of variables for me to be able to give a definitive answer whether it would be safe

or not. If it doesn't catch fires at all, but it's just, you know, the facility is there, you and and the community decides to utilize it as they open it up to the community, would that be a threat to the people utilizing it for walking their dogs, going or walking every day? I I'm just

I I don't have the knowledge or in that expert.

This was one of the okay. It's like I think this one of the questions that need to be addressed.

Yes, ma'am.

Alright. So I guess on that note, would there be a need and I don't know if this is a question for you, but would there be a need to evaluate what she's asking upon the use of that. So I think all of that, you know, it could be used for, you know, walking trails and things. Those are, like, hypothetical type things. But if it comes to fruition, does that have to be evaluated does the safety piece that she mentions does it then have to be evaluated or is there a way to do that?

I'm unsure we look at the codes and safety of the structure itself we don't evaluate the environmental around

it and thank you for educating

Okay so we're going back we're we're to just reiterate we are discussing on the rezoning of this particular parcel of a total of four nine acres so that's what we are discussing and what's germane to hear to this so are there any further discussions on this any further input do you have?

Do you see any similarities from this facility as the bowel lab facility is it any similarities how this could catch on fire this could potentially impact the community could I mean if does this have any relation because we just filed up just left the community so I'm like does this facility has any could it do the same thing could it have the same impact in case a takes place?

It all depends on how the fire grows and if it spreads to other containers the codes try to limit that as much as possible now BioLab is different because of the type of material and the quantity and the indoor storage of what it had so you can't really compare the two. Okay. Can't compare the two.

No, ma'am. Okay.

Because it's just it's close to this. It seems like it's just I mean, I I don't wanna use this word, but it's it's close and they just got that type of facility out of community and putting the same facility back in the community is is concerning. But I know that's not your question, but that's just questions that I would like to ask the fire department. Is there any particular what's the potential risk is what I'm clearly wanna see. I was putting it there and I think the community is asking the same thing.

Yes ma'am. Okay

anymore. Okay so at this particular time I would like to on these two items we've given the staff report on those items and you commented on these items if there's no more questions we will go ahead and I would like to now open this

we won't open the public hearing yet

the

applicant would like to respond so they will have time on the podium as well. And the applicant is here.

The applicant is here. So thank you. Okay. So at this time, we'll ask for the applicant to speak if you come.

Just for clarity, can we get 10 or 20 for the two items?

Ten. Ten.

Ten minutes.

Alright. Just quick. Well, thanks for having me. My name is Patrick Duffy. I work at Treaty of Clean Energy. Just thank you for the opportunity to address you all. I do have some team members with me. These are internal experts on our team for battery energy storage systems, our third party advisor Fire Risk Alliance. We also have our attorney from Trout and Pepper and our environmental consultant. So I appreciate all of the comments, but we are very prepared to answer any questions that staff has.

But if we can move on to my opening remarks because I only have ten minutes, that'd be great. I I'd first like to show you a a visual overview of the video that describes our our battery energy storage project, where it's located, what these containers look like, the NFPA standards that fire marshal alluded to. So if we could start the video, that would be great.

In a fast growing region like Rockdale County, Georgia, energy reliability matters. The Panola Grove project will help safely offset rising energy needs in Georgia. Panola Grove is a battery energy storage system or BES. Think of it as a large scale backup battery for the power grid. It stores electricity when demand is low and releases it when demand spikes like during extreme heat or unexpected outages, helping to provide stable, reliable power supply for places such as homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses.

This site was chosen carefully. It sits in close proximity to existing grid infrastructure, minimizing the need for long, high voltage transmission lines. The area has been studied for environmental impact, and the project footprint will use only a portion of the land. The battery energy storage system is made up of a group of modular containers, similar to storage units. Inside are lithium iron phosphate batteries, a safer chemistry than other lithium ion technologies.

These units are stationary, securely enclosed, and equipped with robust safety systems in each unit. Safety is a central part of the Panola Grove project design. In the rare case of an incident, the system is built to contain and manage it within a single unit, avoiding broader risk. We also understand that safety is front of mind for many residents, particularly after the recent chemical fires in the region. A chemical plant typically has stockpiles of raw chemicals that it must handle, contain, and transport.

Do you wanna restart? Is

my time still going?

We'll restart. In a best way, we can we can reset.

Georgia, energy reliability matters. The Panola Grove project will help safely offset rising energy needs in Georgia. Panola Grove is BEST. Think of it as a large scale backup battery for the power grid. It stores electricity when demand is low and releases it when demand spikes like during extreme heat or unexpected outages, helping to provide stable, reliable power supply for places such as homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses.

This site was chosen carefully. It sits in close proximity to existing grid infrastructure, minimizing the need for long, high voltage transmission lines. The area has been studied for environmental impact, and the project footprint will use only a portion of the land. The battery energy storage system is made up of a group of modular containers, similar to storage units. Inside are lithium iron phosphate batteries, a safer chemistry than other lithium ion technologies.

These units are stationary, securely enclosed, and equipped with robust safety systems in each unit. Safety is a central part of the Panola Grove project design. In the rare case of an incident, the system is built to contain and manage it within a single unit, avoiding broader risk. We also understand that safety is front of mind for many residents, particularly after the recent chemical fires in the region. A chemical plant typically has stockpiles of raw chemicals that it must handle, contain and transport dangerous substances as part of daily operations.

At a BEST facility, the only product managed is the electricity itself as the site charges and discharges. There are no raw hazardous chemical stockpiles on-site. As part of the project's safety measures, the facility includes 20 fourseven remote monitoring, gas and thermal sensors, and automated shutdown systems that activate well before issues can escalate. Most minor issues can be handled by these automated systems. As part of project design, we create a comprehensive safety plan that includes training and coordination with local first responders.

In addition to remote monitoring 20 fourseven by trained external personnel, we also work closely with local fire departments to ensure emergency plans are well coordinated and response efforts are swift and effective. This collaboration will continue through construction, commissioning and operation, ensuring the facility is operated with high safety standards. This project brings local construction jobs, significant long term tax revenue, and open space. As a mature and proven technology, battery storage is now operating safely at hundreds of sites across The US, with standards that reflect lessons learned over the last decade. Treaty Oak Clean Energy LLC is a long term owner and operator.

We are committed to being good neighbors, investing in the community from the project's inception and throughout facility's life cycle.

Thank you. I'd like to continue with my remarks. You know, I hope that video provided a bit more context of the battery energy storage system. Before I go further, like, is the top priority for this project and us being thought developers and designing these using every safety NFPA mechanism is at the top of our mind. So before I continue, I just wanna nag us the presentation you heard from assistant chief fireman fire marshal Lynn.

Mister Lynn and his team have an extremely important and difficult job. His responsibility is to plan for worst case scenarios and we not only respect that, we believe it's critical part of safety preparedness. However rare, incidents you referenced in areas like Scottsdale, Arizona, and Moss Landing, California are exactly the types of emergency or exactly the types of situations emergency responders must be prepared for. Our responsibility as developers and operators is to prioritize the safety of our communities and staff. That's why we design projects so that those scenarios are extremely unlikely and work closely with local emergency responders to help ensure they're prepared to act swift to act swiftly and effectively as possible.

Before engaging with the community, we understood the previous industrial safety incidents such as a chemical fire could shape concerns. First off, we respect those concerns a 100% and have dedicated the substantial time this community deserves to listen and educate. During outreach and open houses, we have addressed safety questions directly emphasizing their proposed BEST facility is fundamentally different from a chemical plant due to its purpose and materials on-site. We remain available to the community in this capacity and hope to be a resource wherever helpful. Just in regards to BEST as being a proven technology, at our first two open houses, fire safety was the number one question we received from residents.

In addition to other our previous educational efforts, we also wanna emphasize that battery storage is not an experimental technology. Today, grid storage battery units operate safely in communities across The US and around the world. It's expanding there's an expanding presence right here in the state of Georgia. Georgia Power has, I think, five construction projects with, I think, over 700 megawatts are expected to come online this year in 2026. The industry continues to expand because utilities and grid operators recognize storage as essential infrastructure for grid strengthening and reliability.

Out of the many utility scale projects globally, only a very small percentage of facilities have self reported unit failures and incidents occurred at facilities that were designed and installed before modern safety standards were fully implemented or are attributable to poor installation or operations. Today, modern energy storage systems operate under significant modern national safety standards, including NFPA eight fifty five and UL nine four five forty. Mister Linn alluded to those. Facilities incorporate multiple layers of protection. First, there's twenty four seven monitoring by a remote operation center, advanced battery control systems that continuously monitor temperature and performance, and built in fire detection systems.

In short, these units are hawk eyed and are strictly observed to help identify and react to risk well ahead of a potential incident. The design itself supports safety should an incident occur. There is substantial engineering space between units to help fire propagation, I believe that was a question. A differentiating factor from those large incidents such as Moss Landing and Pinon. Most importantly, as the project's design advances, a detailed emergency response plan will be included so that if a potential risk does arise, it can be cohesively, efficiently, and effectively responded to by the appropriate authorities coordination with local fire departments.

We have been and will continue coordinating closely with local emergency responders throughout construction and operations to ensure preparedness in an unlikely event of an emergency. Other questions we received from the community centered on environmental impacts. This facility produces no air emissions, no harmful EMFs, no wastewater discharge, requires no continuous water use, and includes storm water controls and landscape screening consistent with the county standards. Another topic that's been raised is our relation to data centers. For one, we are not a data center, we're not associated with the data center, we're a standalone battery energy storage facility.

Differences, data centers consume electricity to power technology infrastructure. A battery energy storage does not consume

electricity, it stores power and releases it when needed. It does not create demand and can help offset peak demand created by data centers and other high energy users.

Technology As electricity demand grows, including from population growth, digital infrastructure, and other economic development, battery storage is one of the key tools utilities use to manage that growth responsibility. It reduces peak strain, helps avoid costly infrastructure upgrades, provides rapid backup support, and offset demands spikes that might otherwise require additional resources. Finally, I know I'm short on time and I hope I get additional questions on all things best in fire safety, but just from Treaty Oaks perspective, we're a long term owner operator of these facilities. We're not a short term developer that's in and out. We develop these with the purpose of owning and operate these in all of our communities.

We plan to remain engaged and have open lines of communication and be responsible corporate neighbors. We fully understand that trust is not built overnight. We hope to have set a foundation for intentional public outreach to date. We've held two open houses, mailed out 8,000 postcards to community members, conducted a door knocking campaign, made phone calls, have sponsored multiple have made multiple sponsorships of local community events, advertised in the newspaper, and ensured that as much as possible our materials were provided in English and Spanish versions. We we respectfully request your approval and appreciate your time and consideration.

We also hope to to answer any questions that you all have. We have a team of internal and external experts and hope we can do that. So thank you again for your time.

Okay. I have questions. You mentioned the other communities. Where are

these communities?

There'll be those in Georgia. Macon and Bibb County, I believe, were two. I think there's

Well, make this the same county.

Sorry. Making Bibb. Bibb County, it's 765 megawatts. It was a recent announcement from Georgia Power at the 2025, blinking on the names of the other counties, but there's four other counties. I promise if you Google it, they'll they'll come up.

Because that because that's important to me because I wanna know if

there's similarities.

Like, how do you pick these

counties?

Georgia Power also issued an RFP, a request for, I I believe, 500 megawatts of battery storage that they're requesting to help the grid. So there's been a lot of activity from Georgia Power of kind of the need for battery energy storage in the state to support ongoing power growth. A lot of that's driven by a lot of data center demands, strain on the grid and then battery energy storage projects are helping reduce that.

I'm just curious because there are 159 counties. Think there's four. So how do you pick in Macon?

There's five separate Four counties

in Macon and Rockdale, totally different, different population. Well, kind of different.

Colleton I believe was another.

Is that other county?

I'll have to get back

to maybe or

is it South Georgia, North Georgia?

Maybe he'll If I could

check my phone for two Yeah.

Because I'm just curious Sure. As to how the the locations are chosen.

Okay after you share that information we'll go ahead and continue because we still have public hearings.

Talbot County, Twiggs County, Cherokee County.

So you guys are Georgia Power put out an RFP that you responded to. Therefore, your answer I mean, your f your answer in RFPs that Georgia Power put out a need for RFP for this particular area and that's why.

Sure. So we actually have are in ongoing discussions with a local EMC energy management company on an off take agreement. So who we're selling the power to might not be Georgia Power. Our interconnection agreement of where our power is going directly to the grid is with Georgia Power. So there's an interconnection agreement that's essentially our power going onto the grid. So the Georgia Power substation's right across the street from our project project area. Georgia Power did release the RFP as well for additional battery storage, but we are talking to another EMC, about selling our power

to them.

The other counties that you name is not within not within metropolitan areas. Right? That county is the only one that's within the metro area. And it's kinda populated. So was just kidding.

Jerry? Just keep your claim to be in the metro area.

I don't think it's

Cherokee. I don't I don't

think so. Atlanta Rescue Commission, don't I don't think so. Not yet. I don't think so. But I just want, you know, is just and you and you and you said in your presentation, you were supplying hospitals and schools. So you're not supplying data centers?

No. Our power is going directly to Georgia Power. The way that the power gets dispersed through Georgia Power's grid is supporting everything. Right? So we're not directly providing power to the data center as like a separate agreement that our battery storage is connected to this. We're going directly into the utility and the utility is Okay. Sending

Alright. And

I'd like to say that. So Cherokee County

is part of what Atlanta Region Commission considers it the lemon. Okay. Alright. Based on Google. Thank you.

Okay. Are there any more questions? Okay.

Any questions on No.

Thank you. Okay. Now we'll open it for public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak in favor we have the list

okay so we have Robert Hughes in favor and Chris Wood in favor.

Hello. How are you today?

Good. How are

My name is Robert Hughes. I serve the community in a couple capacities, one I serve with Restoration Storehouse Center, on 1400 Parker Road and I didn't intend to speak today but I'm speaking in favor, because of the direction of the need to relieve stress on the grid. In addition to that, the families that we serve, we support utility assistance, and we are always trying to find ways to reduce those costs. As I've explored, this type of system, grid wide, it's intended to help reduce those costs long term. And so as I thought about that work and the work that needs to go forward to support families, that was one of the reasons why I am in favor of that project coming forward.

In addition, we also had an opportunity to engage with, this company, host a event at Restoration Storehouse in the way of education. And that was an opportunity for me to learn more about the fire safety, some of the ways in which those things impact the families directly. And so with that, I personally think that there's a need for that to continue to go forward here in this county. One of the other areas include long range planning. As I began to do the personal exploration and looking at ways in which families and neighbors can sustain themselves, the grid as we are all learning more about it, I say as I'm learning more about it, the need for reliability focuses in on the very things that impacts the families that I serve.

If the grid goes down, then we have significant medical condition that takes place if medicine begins to expire, if refrigeration is out for a period of time. When we most recently went through the medical excuse me, not medical, the weather extreme issue with the cold weather. We received several calls from people who were in danger of not being able to have appropriate medicine because of failure of electricity. And so as we began to explore as a community the things that we are in need of, I believe that this is a solution in that process and a step forward. Thank you for your

time. Thank you.

Commissioners, good evening. My name is Chris Wood. I live at 485 Kingswood Lane Lane in Atlanta. Am not here personally to tweak you one way or the other. I represent Snapping Shoals EMC. I'm their vice president of economic affairs and external affairs. We are the EMC that has been having early conversations with this battery energy storage unit. Are I love it that the community is engaged. I also love, I heard a lot of questions earlier about the data centers and I think they have been very absent about being present in the community and talking about what they do. Been very impressed with Treaty Oak.

They have had several public meetings. They have engaged in the community and are trying to do all they can to answer legit questions by the community. What I did want to do tonight was to talk about some of the things that benefits that this would bring to us. You hear a lot about grid stability and grid resiliency. You will see more of these units start to pop up all over the state. Georgia Power is investing heavily in these. All of the EMCs collectively are doing that and you'll have the electric cities as well doing that. There's a lot of solar down in Georgia that generates power. The sun shines during the middle of the day. Middle of the day is not a great time for electric use.

Usage. Our peaks are in the mornings, they're in the evenings when everybody gets home or they're on very cold days or they're on very hot days. So these battery storage units actually allow the energy from the solar facilities to be stored and then we can use them at other times. One of the things that I really like about it, nobody in here is happy with their electric bills. We get a ton of that at Snapping Shoals and we are one of the lowest cost providers in Georgia.

We still get a lot of complaints. A lot of that is tied to peak usage. The more you're using at peak times the more you spend on that. So if you can use facilities like this to run when you're in peak times, you're buying less on the open market or you're using less and you actually run this battery down and it's kind of an arbitrage. It helps us spend less money to purchase electricity we need which means our bills to y'all are lower.

You'll find the same thing from Georgia Power and all of the other industries as well. It also helps with infrastructure deferral. You've got this battery in your backyard and you can use it. It helps you from having to build extra substations sometimes or do infrastructure updates and other things along those lines. I think that's pretty much what I wanted to cover today. Did I answer any questions for y'all?

That's good. Thank you.

Thank you.

K. Anyone else in favor?

That's all I have signed up for in favor so no move to opposition yes Paul do you want to go ahead and speak yeah you're signed up

Afternoon again. I just have a couple of things. The first, I guess, the forty nine years since I've been practicing law, I've had several occasions to deal with corporations seeking benefits from government entities. It's been my experience that promises made to get benefits are very rarely kept. The fact that they may they I guess either or the battery battery energy storage system.

They may now only be saying they're going to use x amount of this property, and the rest of it's going to be dog trails and hiking trails and swimming pool. Unless that property is deeded to the county in perpetuity, it's not gonna be dog trails. I can guarantee it. And the other thing that I just wrote down that I can't read my writing, the battery place has no connection with the data center. I don't believe in coincidences.

As an attorney of forty nine years, no. When you build or apply for a battery place next to a data place at the same time in the same location, to say there's no connection, I won't say we're used to say the Navy, but it's less than truthful. From history, when you build one of these battery energy storage systems because of the risk, homeowners insurance goes up and the property values go down. That's historical because of the crazy danger that these battery centers produce. Zerosol owned the property before this Michigas began.

I I don't know why they did it. We don't know now how many lithium ion batteries they're going to have. And that's relevant for the danger that those batteries pose. The more batteries you have, the higher the danger. If everything worked perfect, like the the battery people say, all the precautions, they wouldn't need corroboration with the fire departments.

They just wouldn't. Well, we're we've got methods to keep this place from catching on fire so we don't need to talk to the fire department. But they do. As to the risk of fire, I have not heard anything about additional training or additional equipment that's going to be required based upon the number of batteries they have there by the fire departments. Some of you may recall we had, I think, three major fires at a chemical plant here within the last ten years.

I think 2009 was the first one. It took a couple days to put the most recent one out. And I think there was an evacuation over a thousand people here because of that fire. The risk of fire and the emissions of the gases is the major issue that I have. When lithium ion batteries burn, they emit toxic gases.

The worst of which is hydrogen fluoride that causes severe respiratory damage to humans. They also emit carbon monoxide, methane, ethane, benzene, hydrogen chloride, cyanide, and hydrogen, which is a risk of explosion. They're very difficult to extinguish. And I think two of the most recent fires of lithium ion battery places was 05/15/2024 in California that burned for seven days before they could put it out. There was a second one on 01/16/2025 that required the evacuation of over 1,200 people.

Safety plans were in place when both of those fires took place. Fire departments were available in both of those fires when they took place. This is this is a danger to everyone who lives in Rockdale County depending upon which way the the winds are blowing. You know, there are my neighbors, some of them, one who has COPD was greatly affected by the last fire they had at the pool supply place. I don't know how much of the energy produced by the battery factory is going to the data center, but that's the main purpose of them being here together.

If the data center loses power, battery energy storage system provides it for them. They got to have cables and wires going from one place to the other, which is why these two properties are next to each other. You know, I'm just I was gonna say a poor country lawyer, semi retired country lawyer, still work for the camp. Well, I worked for the guy that didn't get paid by the camp. I may have been bored at night,

but

I wasn't bored last night. We don't need this. We didn't need the first one. I knew nothing about that place, notices, and to say that in this case, there was a door to door can vas or mailings they must have missed my place and I'm home seven days a week and I'm opposed to it.

Okay thank you. We'd like to remind everyone please to be mindful that we will withhold comments and make those comments to the commission. Please please refrain from public comments doing everyone speaking. Let's respect everyone. Okay

okay next we have doctor Linda Akins Young

Good evening. Good evening. I am Linda Akins Young, and I live at 1869 Farmer Road in Conyers. Thank you. I feel like a little girl in a candy store.

So many things that on your agenda that I need to partake of. I am here, and I am opposed to items four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine. Now, I understand that four through seven is not actually on the agenda tonight, but the comments that I have to make are the same for all three. I'm a lifelong resident and taxpayer here in Rockdale County, and I've lived on Farmer Road my entire life, and I've lived at 1869 for the last fifty six years. I'm hesitant about speaking this evening because in recent years, Rockdale County elected officials have shown very little concern for the well-being of its residents.

Now clarification, this board is not elected. They're appointed, so that conduct does not apply to them. Our leadership has through their actions shown that industry, no matter what kind, data centers, multifamily housing, truck stops, service stations, warehouses, etcetera, etcetera, is more deserving of getting what they request at the expense of lifelong citizens and taxpayers. Allowing the extreme number of these developments is doing nothing but infringing on Rockdale County residents and pushing us out of the communities that we've called home our entire lives. No consideration that to us residents, our homes are sacred and hold generational memories.

I currently and have for fifty six years resided on the property where my paternal grandmother lived most of her adult life. She always told me as a little girl that she wanted me to build a house on her lot, and that's exactly what I did. In recent months, DC Block Data Center development was approved by the zoning and commissioners. DC block data center is being constructed adjacent to my neighbors and across the street from where my husband and I reside. Acquisitions, which is the other company that's up for a data center, that totals 262 acres is asking you to approve rezoning will block us in on the left.

Data the DC Block is on the right. The land they're wanting to acquire is on the left, and we sit right there in the middle. Not to mention that the battery company is just right down the street. Okay? There are residents.

There are human beings that are living in these areas, and we need support from our elected officials and our service people like your board to help protect us as citizens. The DC Block has already shaken things loose in our community. The blasting, they told us there was not very much rock but every day, there's blasting that makes you jump, your heart jump out of your chest because you're not expecting it. And no matter how hard you try to prepare for it, it catches you off guard. Your houses shake.

The things on the wall, the things on the table shake. There's no doubt in our mind that our foundations to our homes are being terribly affected. Every time I go outside or leave home, I find myself in tears all wanting to take up cussing. It hurts very deeply to see what has become our neighborhood. It looks like a war zone, and most days, we feel that it is a war zone.

They're blasting so severe that, and I already said that, that the things in our home shake and that they originally told us that there would be no blasting. Well, I'm here to tell you that where Acquisitions is proposing, it is nothing but rock. I think as board members, you all need to go out there and see it. It is nothing but rock. And then, of course, if zero gets their appeal I lost my place because I get I get emotional about this.

Okay? If they their appeal is granted, then DC block has already shaken our houses loose. Acquisitions will come and cause them to fall, and then Zurasol will burn them up. We have had to endure bio lab for a number of years. We've been here for every bio lab fire.

We were involved in the evacuation that happened just was the last year? It seems like last month, but that just recently happened. We cannot continue to survive with things as they are. Okay? Most of our neighborhood is elderly, so this has been very, very stressful for us.

We are concerned about who's gonna pay our counseling bills, because we're all gonna need counseling before all of this construction takes place. Just as the previous speaker stated, there is no way as my grandmother used to say, on God's green earth that you can convince me that m and the battery place are not connected because one thrives on the other, and for them to keep telling us that is ridiculous, okay, because as he said, they're right across the street from each other because they're supporting each other. We're concerned for our health with all of these large data centers as our neighbors. They're relatively new, but research supports that nearby residents should be concerned about health issues that they may experience. We already know the concerns about water and electric usage, and speaking of water, because the data centers use so much water, there's not going to be any water out there to put the fires out from the battery plexus.

We're asking you to consider our well-being and enact a moratorium on data centers that extends further than July, data centers and rezonings, enough is enough and we have had enough why in my community thank you

next we have Ellen Lee

My name is Ellen Jocquist Lee. I live at 1848 Farmer Road. I have lived there for over forty years. My husband has lived in Conyers for over seventy years, although he does not look like it. My father-in-law deeded us our land.

We talk about black legacy, we are black legacy. He gave it to us. We have worked, we've paid taxes, we've raised children, we have grandchildren, and we live at a peaceful home and a loving and peaceful neighborhood. Now, because some billionaire somewhere decided they don't have enough money, they've decided to bring data centers and now a battery storage system to our area. We were told when the data center came, oh, they were gonna bring all this revenue to Rockdale County, our taxes were gonna go down, and guess what?

They went up. That didn't happen. We were told, just like the gentleman talked about, the Bess system, they were gonna put walking trails and build and plant trees and have parks and recreation places for that didn't happen. I wanna ask you a few questions. The planning board, I just wanna ask you a few questions.

Would you want them to build this behind your house? Would you want them to build this next to your parents? Would you want them to build this next door to your children? Would you want them to go out and solicit this type of business to be in the area where your grandchildren are growing up. The two gentlemen that spoke in favor of this business, I didn't hear them say it was gonna be in their backyard.

I I I I went to AI and asked for some reasons we should not have this battery storage system in our area. A lot of what I found, the gentleman representing the fire department talked about uncontrollable fire risk, toxic emissions, safety hazards, proximity and density to schools and parks and houses, environmental concerns, quality of life. When you reach 72, you're looking for quality of life. There's gonna be increased heavy truck traffic, noise, and they operate twenty four seven. But in all fairness, when I look for the cons, I went back and researched the pros.

Okay. What benefit could I get from having this in my backyard? Bess said, your electric bill will be lowered. Bess said that. BESS is the battery energy energy storage system. But I didn't hear any consumer say that. That's their propaganda. Not a benefit to me. Back up electricity. You heard them say that.

How many of you have had outages that last more than a few hours? A couple of days at most. Why should we bear the risk for providing backup energy for who knows where? We don't need backup power. So where is it gonna be going?

To those data centers that just happen to be on the other side of my house? We've already been sold a pig in the in the poke as the old folks say, with the data center. We experience explosions every day as doctor Young said. We can't sit outside because of the noise. I'm in my golden years.

I should be able to go sit out in the backyard. We had to contact the sheriff's department because drones were flying over our house. Instead of taking taking on part of the tax burdens, we have had a record increase in taxes. So where is your tax money going? Now once again, I'm coming back to the pig in the blank pig in the blank.

I was on a meeting I was on a meeting with Rockdale with one of these companies wanting to talk to the community. And the gentleman said, you know, the commissioners have have have been saying, we are on a data center alley. They called us Data Center Alley. When I questioned that, the gentleman started laughing, he said, maybe I shouldn't have said that. Well, maybe he shouldn't have. But it sparked something in in me. What are our elected officials doing? I'll end now. I'll end now. I assume that's what that is.

I'll end. But I do wanna I do wanna say, we need to and you're you're the planning commission. We need to know why we are attracting in Rockdale County these type of industries and these type of businesses that nobody else in Georgia wants, and nobody else even in The United States wants. You hear them protesting this all over The United States. You shouldn't put them in your backyard, you shouldn't put them on your farm, you shouldn't put them in your in your subdivisions, and please, I respectfully request you decline this or you don't put them in mind.

Chair Peterson, so we ran out of time for opposition comment, but you can allow more time. It looks like we still have one, two, three, four more speakers. So you can allot more time for the opposition. And then also Treaty Oak, you have six minutes remaining. So you can rebuttal as well after comment.

Okay. That additional time will be an additional ten minutes per speaker?

No. You get to decide. It's so the time is collectively. It's based off of each case. So since they had two cases, they got twenty minutes of opposition or twenty minutes of favor during the public hearing. So we've read out of that twenty minutes, but you can elect to have more time if you'd like to give the speakers more time.

Well, I'll go ahead and give them more time because we we should hear everybody speak. So I think that's fair. Do you

want to do another ten minutes collect that'll be collectively for the next four speakers?

Yes and that's that's to be understood as ten minutes collectively. Correct. So we can go ahead and do that.

Next we have Eugene Nixon.

Good evening.

Good evening. Thank you for this small amount of time. My name is Eugene Nixon. I live at 3309 Quarter Horse Lane, Conyers, Georgia 313. I'm also a pastor at an address of 1908 Rockbridge Road in Conyers, Georgia.

I'm here to be against, rezoning for the best and also for the data centers. If you look at Rockbridge Road and now Bess is trying to go Irwin, which is off of Rockbridge, you also will have about 50 to 75 yards from our church, another meeting about a data center. And then if you go all the way down to Rockbridge and you already have another one that's already built. So you would have four to five buildings right in the proximity of communities, not way out in the woods somewhere, but in communities where people live. And I'm against it because I think it's too much buildings in this small area.

I don't know why they come to this area, I've heard a lot of things but I just think this is the straw that's going to break the camel's back and I think as the planning, I wish you would, please allow the fire department to present again because he made my point of all of the things that they don't know that could happen, that may happen. The other thing is what happens when these do not are successful, these big buildings that are eyesores, what happens when they close them down? Do they have a reclamation process to do something with the buildings and the land or we just they're just going to be vacant. Our taxes as they already for stated they're going to go up. The noise level of the data centers, what will happen with that noise level 20 fourseven.

I just think it's bad and they chose a bad area because I will be back thank you thank you

so next we have Lavonda Clarington

Good evening.

Good evening.

I am doctor. Lavonda Clarington I'm going to defer most of my time to Stephanie but I would just like for you all to please listen to your citizens I've been to a lot of these meetings and we talk we oppose we tell you why and then you vote four and I'm just hoping and praying that you all please listen to your citizens the people who are going to be impacted by this every day

thank you

and next is Stephanie Thomas

good evening

I a

resident for almost twenty years of as of April twenty years in Rockdale I am very concerned in the interest of revenue, that in the interest of revenue and profit, developers who do not live here, drink the water, breathe the air, have been allowed to come into our community, make their money, and leave us here to deal with the consequences. Everyday, I'm a nurse for thirty three years, I've worked at Rockdale Medical Center. Everyday, I watch people living and dying with the preventable environmental related illness. My background is also in public health and environmental health. Research shows battery energy storage system facilities pose risk to water consumption, potential soil and water contamination, toxic fumes if anything happens.

BI Lab has already proved that to us four times, possible fire hazards, our local ecosystems are very important, the soil, the water, the wildlife are all important, and guess what? So is human life. As an RN, I've watched how environmental hazards impact chronic disease. No company, for profit, will tell you about possible health hazards ten, twenty, thirty years in the future. Their goal is to get what they want.

They will always tell you the upside. The people have voiced their concerns and disapproval, and we need our elected and our appointed officials to listen to the people who live here and will continue to live here. We are expecting you to consider us and the next generations, we care nothing about these people telling you whatever they're telling you. Thank you.

Thank you.

And the last speaker, mister Arnold? You, sir? I'm sorry if you can state your name again.

Alright. There's two things been discussed today. Oh,

One

is sorry the data center.

Can you state your name?

My name is Carl Blaschke. I live in Lake Capri States. One thing is the data center, one thing is the battery. They're two separate animals. Now, there's two things some things have been brought up here.

Number one, the battery center needs to work with the fire department to make sure it's safe. Number two, make sure that they aren't interconnected, which I can't see any interconnection because Battery Center's gonna go straight in George Power, then George Power is gonna do the battery center. The thing about the battery center, which I'm approved of, which I'm not approved of the data center. The battery centers, we have if our electricity goes out, we have a battery right here in Rockdale County rather than 100 miles away in Macon or 70 miles away in Cherokee. We have a battery to keep our power going.

Now as for the increased battery use here, we have two things. We have electric cars and we have new subdivisions like behind b b b BJ's. You know, this is gonna happen. We have all these plans going on. We're gonna need enough electricity.

But the thing is having a battery center right here. So if we do lose our electricity, and we all need electricity, if we do have it, it's a mile away instead of a 100 miles away. Yes, battery will go other places, but at least here and we need to put that also in the whole idea of having, hey, take care of Rockdale County first. You put battery center in here, fine. Take care of Rockdale County first, then take care of other parts.

But if it's a 100 miles away, well, we may get electricity, we may not. And our grid is being pushed. And that's and having, you know, backup here in Rockdale County would be a good thing. Do these things need health? Yes. Agreed. Yeah. We just have to make sure it is safe. And the Rockdale County Fire Department has to work with these people and to make sure it is safe. Now these things that have been brought up.

Bio, that was a long time that was built a long time ago, and it wasn't safe. Alright? We need to make sure that they're going to be safe. But just to have us our battery right here in our county, rather than a 100 miles away in Macon or 70 miles away in Cherokee County. That would be wonderful. Thank you.

And now, Treaty Oak, they have six minutes left. They can choose to rebuttal.

Hi. Good evening, everybody. My name is Josh Cherry. I'm representing Tridio Clean Energy. I'm a proud Georgia Tech graduate.

I will add my name to the list of people that are not typically public speakers. I am senior manager of energy storage systems, which means I'm usually a desk jockey. I first wanna thank the community members for their earnest and honest comments. This is an important process for your voices to be heard so that we can get the best outcomes for this community. And by the same token, my only goal in standing up here is to just tackle a list of items I heard from community members and otherwise where I felt my expertise as a technical leader in energy storage could, for lack of better term, set the record straight.

That's all I wanna do here. There was a concern brought up about the number of batteries being unknown at our system and leading to large scale fires. However, as part of if a code driven hazard mitigation analysis also known as an HMA, we will need to know the exact quantity of batteries that are at site. That same HMA will be used to inform an ERP, an emergency response plan that we collaboratively work with the fire department. Furthermore, that same ERP will be dovetailed into training, collaborative training between ourselves, the fire department, and other emergency responders that will run through as many scenarios as we can imagine for this system.

Will include site walks during construction as well as tabletop exercises with the fire department and an ongoing refresher for the twenty year life of this battery. I also heard concerns about toxic emissions in the rare event of a fire. In all cases where there has been air quality monitoring for a battery fire event, the air quality monitoring has shown that the concentration of the relevant gases are low enough at the site boundary to be considered below hazardous levels by OSHA or NIOSH. I also heard references to some very large scale fires. For example, the fire chief correctly brought up the Moss Landing fire in California.

Large scale fires, newsworthy fires have been older indoor systems. Moss Landing, for example, was tens of thousands of square feet, and so the fire was allowed to expand to consume the entire building. Our system contains 20 foot containers, that's about also in the rare event of a fire, as justified by the UL 9540A test method, we have high certainty that a fire would not expand beyond a single container. Or put in other words, these systems are not designed to fail, but in the event that they do, they are designed to fail safely and and manageably. Another thing I wanna reiterate, though I don't know how far it will take us, is that we have no relation to any data centers.

We are not a data center developer. We're seeking to sell our power to, local EMCs that serve your community. We are not striking any deals with any data centers for this project. I also heard some reference to walking trail, dog park, etcetera. That was an idea that we had for the undeveloped acreage of this site.

However, in the course of our two open houses and other conversations, it was made very clear that the folks in this community don't want any sort of walking trail or dog park in that area. And so at this time, that that plan has has been scrapped, and that was before tonight even. Also heard reference to traffic and noise. The construction of any project will bring truck traffic. There's there's no there's no two ways around that, and I can't speak anything to be to dispel that.

However, during the normal operation of this system, we perform noise studies that can be justified after the operation of the system to make sure that the ambient noise of our nearest neighbors does not increase anything above a negligible amount. Also saw reference to a big building that might have been a data center comment, but just for reference, these these containers are like shipping container size. They're pretty small. They're not they'll they'll be hidden by vegetative buffer. Also heard reference to what's gonna happen after.

As part of our development process, we are required to create a decommissioning plan and post bond for that for this project. So there will be detailed plans of what will happen to this facility either after the useful life or if something were to happen before then to make sure that this site is restored to the best of our ability to the right as we found it. Also saw reference to water consumption. During normal operation, this site does not consume any water. In fact, there won't even be, you know, like a running potable water system on-site.

It's fully self contained. The thermal management systems are also self contained. This is not a user of water. And finally, there was some reference also on the top of the water to runoff and contamination. Just like any other project, we are required to, run through our paces with oh, it's the Georgia's storm water.

Sorry. I'm not an environmental person, but there's some pretty strict permits that we need to get related to storm water and runoff to ensure that any water runoff, perhaps from an unlikely event of the fire department needing to use some water for their efforts at site, but that does not make it into the public water systems. So that was just a list of the items that I wanted to address. I hope you'll appreciate my comments as I've appreciated everybody else's, and I thank you for your time.

Thank you. Thank you.

You can close the public hearing now.

Okay. If there's no more comments, we will close the public hearing at this time. And so now we would have discussion. Is there any unreadiness on this before we vote? Okay. Do I have a motion on r e z two zero two five dash 13?

I'll make a motion

that we deny the proposed amendment for r e z two zero two five thirteen.

Okay.

I second.

Okay. So you second on the motion to deny the proposed amendment RZ twenty twenty five-thirteen.

Yes.

Okay all in favor state by saying aye. All that oppose nay the motion carries the proposed amendment has been denied

sorry can we vote that again because no one said yay when you said Okay. In favor. So if you're in favor of denying. Yes. Then please say yay.

Okay. So let me do that again. Do we have a motion on r e z two zero two five dash 13?

Yes. I'll make a recommendation to deny r e z twenty twenty five dash 13. My denial is based on the impact it has on the existing community, the unknowns, things that they may have to questions and issues that need to address with the fire department. And based on those three things and the impact of all those things, I make a motion to deny r e z twenty twenty five dash 13.

Okay. I'll second. Did not. Okay. So the motion is opposed or denied.

Motion for that denial is

passed. Okay.

All in favor. All in favor. I'm sorry. All in favor of the post amendment state by saying aye. Aye. All that or any nays? The motion carries for it deny. Do I have a motion on f l u m two zero two five dash seven zero?

Zero seven.

I make a motion to deny f l u m two zero two five dash zero seven. Okay. The proposed amendment.

Second.

Okay. We'll have a vote at this time. All in favor of the motion for deny of the proposed amendment state by saying aye those that oppose nay the motion carried for the denial of the proposed amendment of f l u m two five two two zero two five dash seven motion passed okay the final three items that are text amendments related to updates in Rockdale County Unified Development Ordinance. Staff will present the items together and we will hold a public hearing before the commission considers on each item. I'll ask the staff to report the staff report at this time

Good evening, commissioners. Jessica Pollett, project manager with Planning development. So, you have three text amendments on your agenda tonight. Text twenty twenty six dash zero one. Text twenty twenty six dash zero two and text twenty twenty six dash zero three.

All three of these amendments have to do with our rewrite of our unified development ordinance. But the first two items, staff has is going to propose a withdrawal of those two items. When the Planning Commission didn't meet quorum in February, we were on a track to phase adoption of our UDO. But without that quorum in February, it skewed the timeline. So we are now bringing the full UDO, which is text twenty twenty six dash zero three before you for, recommendation to the board of commissioners.

Okay.

So for item r 10, you can, open the public hearing. We don't have a presentation because we're asking that it's been withdrawn. So, again, this was for phased adoption of the UDO, and so we want to withdraw that text amendment one and two and replace those with text amendment twenty twenty six dash zero three.

Okay.

Okay. So.

So I will now have open public hearing for item r 12 text twenty twenty six dash o three.

Let's start with r 10.

Okay.

Yeah. Item r Yep.

Okay. So, you

can start a public hearing for that one.

Okay.

Yep.

If there are no comments on that since it's being withdrawn, can close the public hearing.

Okay. Since there's no comments, we'll go ahead and close the discussion on r 10. Open for discussion on item r 11

we have to vote on r ten first though right for

the public hearing we'll take all three items at the public hearing and then next we'll do the vote so if you have comments on text twenty twenty six dash zero two

if there's no comments we'll close comments for our 11 Okay. The next item is r 12 Text2026Dash03.

Okay. And for this item we do have a presentation because this is the item that we'd like you to move forward with recommendation to the BOC. So, prior to that hearing, I'll let our director Brandon White. Give you guys a presentation.

Okay. Thank you.

Good evening members of the board. Replace the previous two versions that you saw and what we have online. And so this will basically start the process for the next round of review for the unified development ordinance amendments. And so the purpose of the UDO update as you can see on the screen, it will include public engagement obviously this meeting, there'll be several other meetings that we'll have over the next few months. Discussions from staff's point of view, other members of the administration over the past several years, things in the code that needed to be updated, inconsistencies, conflicts, things of that nature that need to be updated, guidance from the board of commissioners.

We also have a housing study that's been in the process. Have a town hall on that next week. Be there

for everybody.

Also, comprehensive plan from 2023 informs this process, changes to best practices, modernization, industry innovation, changes to state law, changes in case law through the court system. All of those things inform, this process on why we need to update the regulations. And so essentially what we do during this process from the comprehensive plan, through the discussions, through the meetings, we take the visioning discussions, ideas, thoughts, we transform those into concepts and on the back end of the process we create the actual ordinances that contain the regulations. So that gets us from theory to the tangible products that you see in the community, houses, the buildings, the commercial, all of those things. And so that's essentially how this works.

You take all those ideas, you put it through this funnel called the adoption process and when we're done with this process we have a body of regulation that will guide development for Rockdale County. And so I'll just hit on some of the highlights of the UDO update. I won't go through individual specific changes to the ordinance but the ordinances are online on our planning website. You can see those Rockdale UDO is our specific website. It contains each draft so as we make changes, as we, modify the document, those drafts will be online for public consumption.

So what we've done so far, we've heard through the housing study process, through the comp plan process, and other community engagement meetings, the desire for diversity of housing types. So we've addressed that in the code. We'll get into the specifics in a moment. The code will be reorganized. So we're changing the formatting, trying to make it easier to understand, easier to follow, and then just modernizing some of the, the terms, the definitions contained in the ordinance.

It's been several years since it's been updated, so a lot's changed. Just think about what's changed in the world over twenty fifteen to twenty years. Same thing with the code. We're looking at the zoning districts that we have. We are proposing, to remove some districts, specifically the, R2 zoning district, some of our mixed use districts, we're looking at removing those or replacing them.

Some of the office districts we're also looking at taking some of those away, consolidating them into one office institutional, zoning district. We're also proposing to introduce a couple of new zoning districts, Conservation Village which kind of is attempt to replicate a conservation subdivision where you cluster the homes and you try to preserve as much open space and natural resources as possible on the land. We are also looking at the introduction of plan unit development and we'll talk about that right now. So this is a customary practice around the nation in planning zoning world. So what the plan unit development zoning district does, it's a floating zone.

It doesn't exist anywhere until it's approved. And so it allows for innovative plans, development ideas that may be beyond the scope of the zoning regulations that we have. It may not fit into a specific zoning district, and so this gives the developer, the applicant the opportunity to customize a zoning development plan that may work for that particular development type. It would go through the same process as any other rezoning request. It would come to planning commission.

It would go to the board first read, second read, public hearing process. So just trying to add some flexibility to the code to account for things that just don't fit beyond the scope. Making some updates to the use table. So for those who may be familiar, typically you'll see one big use table, in any zoning ordinance that contains all the allowed uses, what's allowed, what's permitted by a right, what may be subject to a special use permit, etcetera. What we've done now is taken the table and we broke it into, smaller sections.

So there'll be a use table for agricultural uses, table for residential uses, and then a table for non residential uses and our mixed use development options. For those of you who have been in planning circles or been to housing studies and in similar meetings, you've heard the term missing middle housing. So if you look on the far left, you see single family detached. So if you think about it from the sixties to seventies, eighties, nineties, early two thousands, that's been the predominant housing type, across the country, single family detached home. Look on the far right, you see a stereotypical, apartment complex and so around the 2008, 2009 we had the recession, everything went from the far left to the far right.

So you saw this explosion in the construction of multi family. And so during that time period, the things that you see in the middle are what's been missing from the process. Duplexes, cottage homes, you see townhomes are on the rise these days, live work units, when you think about there used to be a store owner and above the store that's where the owner would live, those kinds of arrangements. And so what we're seeking to do is introduce, reintroduce some of that into the zoning ordinance for development. And so this is what we have, tiny homes.

As you can see the illustrations on the left, cluster around a common open space, similar concept for cottage style developments and so these can fit in neighborhoods where the vacant lots that haven't been used for some period of time, this may be an option. Circumstances where people want to list in smaller housing arrangements, less maintenance, what have you, this may be an option. So once again, we're not saying that it's preferred or not preferred, we're just giving housing options, a diversity of options for folks to choose from in the community. Here's some illustrations of, what that looks like in reality. Additionally, heard a lot about the desire for accessory dwelling units and so we've included that into the code with some updated regulations regarding the character of it.

We're requiring that the accessory dwelling units mimic the primary home on the property. It doesn't have to be exact but a similar character, on the site. But this once again another option for housing diversity in the community for additional family members, kids, seniors, etcetera, just another option. We've looked at some of our public and institutional civic uses, so some things the code will address, day care uses both for children and adults in residential and commercial settings and so we wanted to account for both of those healthcare services and then we also wanted to refine and double check our regulations as it relates to places of assembly and so we're required to treat all places of assembly the same. Whether it's a mosque, whether it's a church, whether it's a temple, they have to be treated the same way so we have to make sure that that's reflected in the code.

Commercial, just to touch on a few commercial things, just the introduction brew pubs, distilleries, wineries. I'm sure you all have been to them in a variety of different places and so we're just making those uses available as potential options here in Rockdale. Also the desire for food trucks, mobile food vendors, and so we'll have provisions in the code that address those as a single truck or food truck parks, all those different kinds of arrangements. Industrial uses, we've heard the need to address some of the more intense uses, mining activity, quarrying activities, labor intensive, very intense activities and so we wanted to make sure we had supplemental regulations that mitigate some of the impacts that come along with those. And then obviously a lot of the discussion that we had here tonight regarding utility services, be that battery storage, it data centers and other similar uses.

We also heard a lot about the desire for architectural standards for residential, structures within the community and so we proposed some updates there. So on the top right, you see traditional ninety's style development, are eighty's ninety's style and so what we will propose is what you see in the lower right hand corner. So different kinds of materials, different fenestration, recesses, those kinds of things spruce up our architectural features on residential properties. Same thing for multifamily, multifamily, same thing for commercial and industrial, just trying to get away from the monotonous old school designs, require some brick stone materials and change the look of new development as they come online in the community. Let's see, additionally we also are taking a look at our zoning procedures, so things like the Planning Commission meeting, the order of rezoning applications, to make sure that they comply with state law requirements, but then to also just based on how our observations, feedback that we've received about the processes, where we can tweak some things and make the process better for everybody.

We'll touch on procedures as part of this process and enforcement measures. We have a section on enforcement, code enforcement and so we'll make revisions to it as necessary. One thing we're proposing is to include a multi family inspection program. So we want to prevent slum housing from, becoming a a greater issue in the county. And so this process would set up a process by which we have inspections, annual inspections of multifamily properties.

And so we can stay ahead of the process with making sure the property maintenance things are being taken care of. Hopefully, they'll prevent problems on the back end. So this is the the updated process and timeline tonight being March 12. So the next meeting will be the March 26 board of commissioner zoning public hearing right here in this building, 6PM. So it'll follow a similar cadence to tonight.

So we need to remove the two previous agenda items for the UDO update, replace it with this third one, and then we'll move on to the board, on April 14, to dispense with those things and then to refer the item back to planning commission for actual adoption process. So this will come back in May for actual consideration. We're going give you some more time, do your homework, there will be a quiz and everything so

you all need to be ready.

And so it will come back to the commission on May 14, May 28 back to the board and then our plan is hopefully for adoption on June 9 and then that gives us a couple weeks, to do some of the administrative things that we need to do internally and then the UDO will take effect on 07/01/2026. So that is where we are. This is our website. If you want additional information, if you would like to read the draft, if there's anything that's near and dear to your heart, you can be found on this page as we make updates, we will update this page with those drafts, so it'll be available to, the public. So with that, I will conclude my comments.

Are there any questions? Thank you all very much

chair you can open the public hearing for the text amendment twenty twenty six dash zero

three okay I will now open the public hearing anyone that speak in favor do we have anyone in favor so

we did have some comments that were sent by email after the advertisement of tonight's agenda. And so you all have those comments. So Chairman Peterson, you can state their names for the record. And these were not really comment well

I will

say some of the comments were in opposition of pieces of the UDO specifically the development and zoning regulations from article 7.2, 7.1, and 5.2 in the new UDO. So

we do have the commenters name here. Mhmm. It would be w Kent Campbell developing and zoning. The development zoning. Mhmm. And I can read the comments if you want

me to. You can. Yeah. That's up

to you.

Okay. From w Kent Campbell, on behalf of my family who own over 500 acres in Northern Rockdale, we are very concerned and opposed to increasing the minimum lot size from two to five acres and decreasing unit densities from 0.3 to 0.2. During a town hall meeting on 02/17, no concrete reason, excuse me, was provided for this change aside from a vague reference to the current comp plan. Additionally, we were unaware that such a drastic change had been proposed given that the county did not notify us. The current WP restrictions have been in place for over thirty years, negatively impacting the landowners, I guess that's yes.

Landowners within the West District. To our knowledge, no water quality issues have arisen during that period. We see no reason for the county to propose such drastic legislation, which will further diminish our property rights and land value. Okay?

And so that same comment was submitted with three names.

Okay. That's Ashley c Hamlet? Mhmm. Okay. Campbell senior and the Campbell Campbell family? Mhmm. Okay.

Correct. Okay.

Okay. And Yule Anderson? Mhmm. Okay.

His this comment was towards Anderson had a separate comment Okay. Outside of the Kent family.

Okay. I can read

Okay. Okay.

I'm concerned that Rockville is comparing neighboring ordinances while Rockville is the second smallest county in Georgia. What works for a more successful county that has a larger population and large tax revenues may not work for Rockdale County. I also do not believe the future of agricultural land use is accurate for these properties close to I 20. Lastly, the ramping up and approval of industrial and commercial properties will harm Rockdale and make Rockdale trapped like Clayton County. What is the rationale for restricting agricultural land development?

I need to see that all the language, what the thought process was in restricting agricultural land development when there is very little left in Rockdale County. Thank you. You.

And the final comment was submitted by the data center coalition. It's pretty lengthy, so I don't know if you want to read this one. Mhmm. But it was sent in, with some suggestions on data center standards to propose in the new UDO. Definitely can state the name

Yes. In the organization. This is a lot to read. Yeah. Okay. The name on the data center center rather coalition was Kara Bonder, director of state policy data center to coalition. And

I think that's all the comments. We didn't have anyone signed up, so you can close the public hearing.

Okay. So there's no more comments. I will close the public hearing at this time. Okay. And are there any readiness or discussions for this? K. Do I have a motion on text twenty twenty six dash 01 in reference to the withdrawal of the application.

The '21.

Can I make a motion to approve the withdrawal of item R 10, text twenty twenty six dash zero one? Second.

Okay. So we have a motion. All in favor, by say stating aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Okay. The motion carries.

I make a motion okay.

Go ahead. I'm sorry. Okay.

Do we have a motion for text 2026Dash02?

I make a a motion to accept the withdrawal of item R 11 text 2026Dash02.

Second. Okay. So

Okay. All in favor, state by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The motion passed. I think all of us brain dead by now. Text twenty twenty six dash o three. Do I have a motion?

I move to approve the plan of commission's proposed amendments.

Oh, I'm sorry, Marlene. You please speak into the mic before you hear me?

Sorry. I move that the Planning Commission approve the proposed amendments.

Second. Okay. All in favor on this item state by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. The motion carries. Okay. We'll have reports.

I just wanted to make one comment regarding the data center letter. Can it be put put on the site while people can see it?

It'll part be of the public record of the minutes. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So for the reports, we did wanna discuss the 2026 planning commission calendar.

Let's get this

slide. So, your next meeting is scheduled as a regular meeting on 04/09/2026 at 6PM. That meeting, we do not have any cases to bring before you all, but we would, like to request a meeting, more of a work session for training and review of the new UDO that will be coming before you again, if the BOC sends it back to you, just so that you can have another review session with it. And so we wanna propose an April 9 meeting at 3PM to 6PM as a work session rather than the regularly scheduled meeting at six. So we just wanted your feedback on that.

And then if there are any other dates that you see on the calendar that you know you will not be present for, we'll wanna go ahead and just take note of those. And all of the other meetings are regular meetings at 6PM. Mhmm. Okay. So we can start with the April 9 meeting. Do we know if I know I've gotten a couple of responses from folks who will be able to attend at 3PM.

Mhmm. Okay.

Yes. Yeah. I'll be back. Yes.

Okay. Yeah. So we'll move that meeting to 3PM on April 9?

Yes.

Okay. And then are there any other dates that you see on the calendar right now that you know we won't be able to make ahead of time or you can always send me emails too if you need to think about it.

Doesn't conflict with my birthday.

Gonna try not to let that happen. Okay. If not, we'll leave those meetings on the calendar as regularly scheduled meetings. So our next regularly scheduled planning commission meeting will be 04/09/2026 at 3PM for a work session and training. Yes. And that's that's all for the reports that we had. If you guys have anything.

Okay. If there's no further business before the Planning Commission I entertain a motion to adjourn.

Chair. Meeting tonight. Second.

Second. Okay. All in favor, stick by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, nay.

All opposed.

This meeting is adjourned.