KINGSLAND, Ga. – The City of Kingsland is considering a temporary 90-day suspension of a newly adopted ordinance that set rules for where and how data centers can be developed in the city.
In a public notice, the city said staff reviewed Ordinance No. 2026-03 — adopted by the mayor and council on March 9— and determined “more work needs to be done before the ordinance moves forward,” including how it fits within Kingsland’s zoning regulations and whether additional procedural steps “could have or should have been taken” before adoption.
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The city manager apologized in the notice for what was described as an “unintentional procedural oversight,” calling the proposed suspension a corrective step to ensure transparency and public engagement.
What the data center ordinance does
The ordinance Kingsland passed in March creates definitions and standards specific to data centers, including categories based on size — ranging from “minor” facilities to “major” data centers and “data center campuses.”
Among the ordinance’s key provisions:
- Where allowed: Limits major data centers to Light/Heavy Industrial zoning and requires a Special Land Use Permit.
- Setbacks/buffers: 500 feet from residential zoning (can be 300 feet in some cases) plus a 100-foot buffer next to non-industrial areas.
- Water: Requires closed-loop cooling and water-use documentation (including Georgia EPD permits when applicable).
- Noise: Sets day/night noise limits and limits generator testing.
- Infrastructure: Requires plans/analysis for power/substations, water/sewer, stormwater, and project phasing.
What council will vote on May 11
According to the city’s notice and a draft resolution, Kingsland’s mayor and council are expected to consider a resolution at their May 11 regular meeting that would temporarily suspend Ordinance No. 2026-03 for 90 days.
If approved, the suspension would also direct staff to stop accepting or processing data-center-specific development applications during that window
The draft resolution says the goal is to preserve the status quo while the city conducts additional public outreach, gathers stakeholder input, and considers whether amendments are needed.
Planning and zoning items involving potential data centers pulled from agenda
The city’s public notice comes as Kingsland was supposed to consider two planning and zoning items tied to a proposed industrial park that could include data centers.
City planning staff reports show two proposals scheduled for review involved:
- A request to rezone Parcel 094 053 — about 536 acres near Truss Plant Road, west of I-95 — from Forest Transition to Light Industrial for a proposed industrial park that could include data centers.
- A request to annex Parcel 094 024 — about 146 acres along Laurel Island Parkway — into the city with a Light Industrial zoning designation, connecting it to the larger parcel as part of the same proposed industrial park concept.
The city said in a Facebook post that both items were removed from the agenda.
What happens next
Kingsland officials said they plan to announce additional opportunities for public comment in the coming weeks.
Data centers have become a growing topic nationwide, with communities debating issues ranging from infrastructure demands and environmental impact to neighborhood compatibility.
The Kingsland City Council meeting is scheduled for May 11.