Fisher Explains Vote Against Project Oak Data Center

The Coweta County Board of Commissioners unanimously denied the rezoning request for Project Oak last week, rejecting a proposal that would have expanded the permitted use and development footprint of an industrial property off Walt Sanders Road.

The property is currently zoned industrial, with existing conditions allowing office or warehouse development of no more than 2.1 million square feet. The developer sought to amend those conditions to allow data center use and increase the size of the permitted development.

The Project Oak site sits between two industrial areas and would have required extensions of Coweta Industrial Boulevard and Amlajack Boulevard to serve the property.

The Citizen reached out to several commissioners following the vote. Commissioner Jeff Fisher provided a written statement explaining why he voted against Project Oak, while also distinguishing the proposal from two other data center projects he has supported.

“I’ve tried to look at each data center proposal on its own merits. Project Peach, Project Sail and Project Oak are three different projects, and supporting one doesn’t mean I’m automatically going to support the next one,” Fisher wrote.

Fisher pointed to the existing zoning conditions approved in 2024.

“The Oak property was already zoned industrial, but it was zoned that way in 2024 with specific conditions, including a condition limiting the approved use to office and warehouse,” Fisher wrote. “The request before us was to change those existing conditions so the property could be developed as a data center.”

Fisher said he considered both the developer’s presentation and concerns raised by nearby residents before voting against the request.

“I reviewed the application, listened to the developer and heard the concerns of the people who live in the area,” Fisher wrote. “After considering everything that was presented, I wasn’t convinced that we should change the zoning conditions already in place for this particular project, so I voted no.”

Fisher said his vote should not be interpreted as opposition to economic development or data centers generally.

“I support economic development, and my votes on Peach and Sail demonstrate that,” Fisher wrote. “But I also believe every project has to stand on its own. Project Oak came before us with its own history, its own circumstances and its own request. In this case, it did not earn my support.”

The unanimous denial leaves the property’s existing industrial zoning conditions in place, including its office and warehouse designation and the 2.1 million-square-foot development limit.