Planning Commission Special Called Meeting
Meeting Information
This special called meeting of the Planning Commission will address a rezoning request for a proposed townhome development and consider a text amendment to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to establish regulations for data centers.
Meeting Summary
Rezoning Request for 0 Old Roswell Road
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The Planning Commission will consider a rezoning request (PL-20252326) for a 9.9869-acre property at 0 Old Roswell Road, seeking to change its zoning from Commercial Mixed Use (CX) to Office Residential (OR) to allow for a 62-unit townhome community. [Planning Commission Agenda p.1] [Planning Commission Agenda p.29]
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City staff recommends denying the rezoning request, citing that the proposed townhome development does not align with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan's vision for the area as an employment center and would significantly impact the natural environment due to encroachments into stream buffers and floodplains. [Planning Commission Agenda p.30] [Planning Commission Agenda p.36] [Planning Commission Agenda p.37]
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* Background: This rezoning request was previously deferred from the May 19, 2026 Planning Commission meeting due to an insufficient number of voting members present. [Planning Commission Agenda p.141]
Proposed Text Amendment for Data Centers
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The Commission will review a proposed text amendment to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to formally define and regulate data centers, establishing them as a Limited or Conditional Use in specific zoning districts. [Planning Commission Agenda p.1] [Planning Commission Agenda p.81]
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The staff report on data centers highlights concerns regarding massive water and electricity consumption, noise from fan systems and generators, and pollutant emissions. It also notes that data centers generate fewer permanent jobs compared to other land uses but contribute significantly to property tax revenue due to high-value equipment. [Planning Commission Agenda p.2] [Planning Commission Agenda p.13] [Planning Commission Agenda p.93]
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Preliminary recommendations for the text amendment include categorizing data centers by size (Major, Minor, Accessory), establishing buffer requirements (e.g., 500-1000 feet from residential uses), setting noise maximums (50 dBA at property line), prohibiting evaporative water-based cooling systems, and requiring detailed community impact statements from applicants. [Planning Commission Agenda p.19] [Planning Commission Agenda p.123] [Planning Commission Agenda p.135]
People (55)
A. Bailey
Author
A. Hubbard
Author
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
A. Newkirk
Author
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Angela Rambeau
Planner III
City of Roswell
A. Sharma
Author/Researcher
Science for Georgia
A. Shehabi
Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory
B. Holecek
Author
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
B. Shih
Author
City of Roswell Economic Development Department
Carol Williams
Commissioner
Planning Commission
Cathy Hood
Research Associate
Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)
C. Bair
Author
C. Nichols
Author
Dennis Webb
Applicant, Attorney
Pope & Land Enterprises, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
D. West
Author
Brookings Institution
E. Chauveau
Author
DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability
E. Masanet
Author
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Erica Koh
Stormwater Reviewer
City of Roswell, Stormwater Department
Eric Schumacher
Vice Chair
Planning Commission
Fred Wilson Long
Registered Georgia Land Surveyor
Bates-Long & Associates
Gurtej Narang
Commissioner
Planning Commission; Historic Preservation Commission
Hank Evans
Representative, Economic Development, Physical Infrastructure
OpenAI
H. E. Greer
Author
Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
J. Alexander Brock
Attorney
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
Jason Frazier
Commissioner
Planning Commission
Jason Shaw
Chairman
Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC)
Jeannette Gayer
Author
Environment Georgia
Jeannie Peyton
Planning and Zoning Director
City of Roswell
Khara Boender
Representative
Data Center Coalition
Kitty Singleton
Chair
Planning Commission
K. Mason
Author/Researcher
Regional Planning Association Lab
Krista Thomas
Stormwater Reviewer
City of Roswell
Laura Sommer
Landscape Architect/Certified Arborist
City of Roswell
M. A. B. Siddik
Author
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Michelle Alexander
Director of Community Development
City of Roswell
M. Wong
Author
The Atlantic
Nancy Velez
GIS Reviewer
City of Roswell, GIS Department
Neil J. Bowen
Historian
R.S. Webb & Associates
Nick Pezzello
Sanitation Reviewer
City of Roswell, Sanitation Department
N. Lee
Author
Brookings Institution
N. Lei
Author
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Osmany Ordenez
Engineer
City of Roswell, Engineering/Land Development Division
Pooja Gardner
Commissioner
Planning Commission
Rhonda Donehoo-Faulkner
Registered Architect, Building Division
City of Roswell, Building Division
Robert Mayer
Commissioner
Planning Commission
Robert Zappulla
Commissioner
Historic Preservation Commission
Serge Osse
Engineering Coordinator
City of Roswell, Transportation Department
Sherry Hearn
CNU-A Associate
AEC (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction)
Steven Rowe
Vice President, Engineer
AEC, Inc.
Steve Webb
Contact Person
R.S. Webb & Associates
T. Grizzel
Author
Oracle
Thomas Barranco
Property Owner, Applicant
Pope & Land Enterprises, Inc.
Thomas Borrero
Applicant
P4L North Village, LP
T. Prevost
Author
DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability
W. Bazzone
Journalist
W. Chung
Author
Broadstaff Global Staffing Solutions
Attached Documents (2)
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