Atlanta City Council Votes to Define Data Centers, Limit Locations

Council members Matt Westmoreland and Jason Dozier introduced Ordinances 24-O-1218 and 24-O-1222

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council approved a pair of ordinances defining data centers and limiting their location.

The first ordinance amends the City Code to create a definition of “data center” as “a facility engaged in the storage, management, processing, or transmission of digital data, which houses computer or network equipment, systems, servers, or appliances, and other associated components related to digital data operations.” and prohibiting such centers within 2,640 feet of a high-capacity transit stop (24-O-1222).

The second amends the City’s zoning ordinances to prohibit data centers within the Beltline Overlay District (24-O-1218)

Other items that the Council adopted include:

• A resolution urging Mayor Andre Dickens to launch a blight condemnation program within six months to eradicate blight in the city through eminent domain powers (24-R-3934).
• A resolution authorizing the City to apply for a $20 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Community Change grant. The funds would be used to implement environmental and climate justice activities that reduce pollution, increase climate resilience, and build community capacity (24-R-3926).
• A resolution calling for service agreements totaling approximately $3.3 million to be paid from a FEMA Shelter and Service Grant to the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network, Center for Victims of Torture, Latin American Association, Casa Alterna, Migrant Equity Southeast, Hispanic Alliance Georgia, International Rescue Committee, Inspiritus, and Inner-City Muslim Action Network (24-R-3933).
• An ordinance authorizing $10.1 million to complete resurfacing for Andrew Young International Boulevard N.W., Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W., Centennial Olympic Park Drive S.W., Pearl Street, Boulder Park Drive S.W. (Phase I), Campbellton Road, and University Avenue (24-O-1448).
• An ordinance authorizing $7.1 million to perform street resurfacing projects on Howell Mill Road, Beverly Road, Blackland Road, West Wesley Road, Bolton Road, and Putnam Road (24-O-1449).
• A resolution donating approximately $538,000 to the following nonprofit organizations working to reduce violence and support domestic violence initiatives: Alma Domestic Violence Foundation, Inc.; Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Inc.; Offender Alumni Association, Inc.; The 411 Brand, Inc.; and Injury Prevention Research Center, Inc (24-R-3935).
• A resolution calling for a $415,000 donation to the nonprofit Hub404 Conservancy, Inc., which partners with the Buckhead Community Improvement District, to develop bike and pedestrian bridges as part of the Lenox Road Safe Street project (24-R-3939).
• An ordinance authorizing acceptance of an approximately $831,000 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program Grant from the Technical College System of Georgia Office of Workforce Development (24-O-1452).
• An ordinance authorizing acceptance of an approximately $752,000 WIOA Adult Program Grant from the Technical College System of Georgia of Workforce Development (24-O-1454).
• An ordinance authorizing acceptance of an almost $2 million WIOA Dislocated Worker Program Grant from the Technical College System of Georgia of Workforce Development (24-O-1455).

The City Council presented proclamations and recognitions to honor Prime Time Senior Basketball Team’s gold medal win in the South Carolina Senior Sports Classic, world-renowned organ player and former Chair of the Spelman College Department of Music, Dr. Joyce Johnson, and recognizing September as the City of Atlanta’s Equity in Action Month.

Items introduced for consideration include:

• An ordinance transferring $50 million of Water and Wastewater funding to support a small-diameter rehabilitation project to replace aging and deteriorated sewers, ensuring extended service life, reliability, and improved flow.
• A resolution committing the investment of $10 million over six years to support the City’s Rapid Housing Initiative, which aims to provide 500 units of quick-delivery housing to support residents experiencing homelessness by the end of 2025.
• An ordinance authorizing the execution of a $5 million contract with Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative to provide mobile community referrals and diversion services. Pre-arrest diversion services enable the Atlanta police to offer individually tailored social services instead of arresting vulnerable Atlantans, freeing officers to return to other duties.
• A resolution approving the Atlanta Department of Transportation to seek a $2 million U.S. Department of Transportation Railroad Crossing Elimination grant for a feasibility study and alternatives analysis of identified at-grade rail crossings.
• An ordinance authorizing a $700,000 donation to the nonprofit Gateway Center to support individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in the city. The Gateway Center served 8,682 community members in 2023, including 1,198 residential guests, and successfully diverted 1,531 guests from homelessness.
• An ordinance authorizing Invest Atlanta to create and capitalize a new “Neighborhood Impact Recovery Fund” to help small businesses address major economic disruptions or dramatic reduction in business due to a city, state, or national disaster or major infrastructure redesign and development and transferring $500,000 from the Atlanta Rapid Response Loan Fund.
• An ordinance rededicating the namesake of the Atkins Park neighborhood from Confederate Colonel John Dewitt Clinton Atkins to Dr. Eliza Atkins Gleason in honor of her legacy in the field of library science and her significant impact on the City of Atlanta.