A proposed data-centre campus spanning approximately 700 acres in Douglas County, Georgia, was rejected for the second time in seven months after county commissioners voted against the development on July 7, 2026. The proposal, submitted by East Village Dothan LLC, an applicant linked to data-centre developer EdgeConneX, called for a campus comprising five buildings with a combined floor area of approximately 4.4 million square feet. Located near Interstate 20 and Liberty Road, outside Villa Rica, the project faced opposition from residents concerned about its potential effects on surrounding neighbourhoods and natural resources. Commissioners voted 4-1 against the rezoning request, preventing the development from proceeding under the proposed plan. The decision followed a recommendation from the county’s planning commission to reject the application.
Where was the proposed data-centre campus located in Georgia
The proposed development was planned for land near the Liberty Road exit on Interstate 20, close to Villa Rica in western Douglas County. The property lies near the county line with Carroll County, west of Atlanta, and includes land near Liberty Road, Suddeth Road and the Clinton Nature Preserve.The proposed site covered approximately 700 acres within Douglas County, with the wider property extending into the neighbouring city of Villa Rica. The applicant sought changes to the county’s land-use plan and zoning classification to permit the construction of the data-centre campus and associated infrastructure.The location was significant because the property included largely undeveloped land in an area where residential communities and natural spaces could be affected by large-scale commercial construction.
Why was the project rejected?
The proposal faced opposition over its compatibility with the county’s long-term development plans and the potential effects on local infrastructure and the environment.Douglas County planning officials raised concerns about traffic, public safety, fire protection and water quality. The county’s planning and zoning manager, Allison Duncan, said the proposed development was inconsistent with the area’s long-term growth plan and questioned whether the location was suitable for such a large data-centre campus.The property’s location in the Dog River Basin also drew attention. The basin feeds the county’s main drinking-water reservoir, making the protection of water resources an important consideration in evaluating the development.The county’s planning and zoning commission recommended rejecting the application before the final vote. On July 7, the Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 against the rezoning request, with District 1 Commissioner Henry Mitchell casting the sole vote against denial.
Residents raised concerns about noise, water and electricity
The proposal prompted a heated public debate, with residents expressing concerns about how a large data-centre campus might affect their communities.Noise was one issue raised during the public hearing. Opponents used audio demonstrations to illustrate the potential disturbance associated with data-centre operations. Residents also questioned the project’s possible water requirements and the implications of additional electricity demand.Data centres house servers and other computing equipment that require reliable electricity and cooling systems. The scale of the proposed development therefore brought questions about infrastructure capacity and the long-term consequences for the surrounding area.However, the concerns expressed during the hearing were not proof that the project would necessarily cause water shortages or increase household electricity bills. They formed part of the debate over whether the development was appropriate for the site.
The revised proposal was smaller than the original plan
The development had previously been proposed on a larger scale.An earlier application for the Hickman Property outlined a project comprising 11 data-centre buildings with a combined floor area of approximately 6.22 million square feet. It also included warehouse and distribution space. The original plan covered a wider 736-acre property, of which approximately 700 acres were in Douglas County.The revised proposal reduced the planned data-centre floor area to around 4.4 million square feet and called for a campus comprising five buildings, according to Data Center Dynamics. Other reporting described six buildings.Despite the reduction in the proposed floor area, the development continued to face opposition. The county’s planning commission recommended denial, and the Board of Commissioners subsequently rejected the revised application.
The developer cited potential economic benefits
The project also had supporters who argued that it could provide economic benefits to Douglas County.Representatives for the developer said the campus could create between 200 and 300 permanent jobs. Supporters also pointed to the potential for additional county revenue, an important consideration as local officials grapple with infrastructure needs and public spending.During the public debate, Commissioner Mark Alcarez highlighted the county’s road infrastructure challenges and the need to identify revenue sources without placing additional pressure on property taxpayers.The disagreement reflected a broader question facing communities considering large data-centre developments: whether the expected employment and tax benefits justify the potential effects on local infrastructure, natural resources and residential areas.
What happens to the project now?
The July 2026 decision prevented the proposed campus from moving forward under the rejected application. The property remains subject to its existing land-use and zoning designations, and a future attempt to develop the site as a data centre would require the necessary approvals.As of the latest available project-tracking information in October 2026, no new application or appeal had been recorded following the rejection.The decision also came amid wider debate across the Atlanta metropolitan area over data-centre expansion. Douglas County already has substantial data-centre development, including operational buildings, facilities under construction and other proposals under review.
