Thomasville Considers Annexing Land Near Proposed Data Center as Residents Press for Answers

Thomasville residents again voiced opposition to a proposed data center at the Aug. 10 City Council meeting, and Mayor Sheldon Day said the city is exploring ways to gain more control over the project, including annexing the property where it could be built.

The potential site sits outside Thomasville’s city limits, which limits the city’s legal authority over what can be constructed there. Annexation would require approval from the property owners, but the land would then become subject to city zoning, noise regulations and other municipal requirements. “We are looking for ways of how we can do a good job,” Day said.

Resident Doyle Utsey questioned city officials about the process surrounding the data center and raised concerns about its proximity to nearby homes. Utsey, who said he has lived along the road for about 30 years, noted the facility could be located within roughly 650 yards of residences.

Day said the city did not solicit the data center proposal but acknowledged officials regularly work to attract economic development to the area. “We do our best to sell Thomasville to the whole world,” he said. According to Day, the company involved first approached local officials while scouting sites for a solar project before turning its attention to other types of development. He emphasized that no final proposal has been submitted; a power supply study is underway and is expected to take five to six months to determine whether the site can support the project.

City attorney Glenn Powell told the council that several city ordinances, including those governing alcohol, business licenses and zoning, need to be updated because current regulations do not specifically address data centers. Because the facilities are classified as commercial rather than industrial, he said, they can currently be located almost anywhere in the city. Statewide, opponents of data centers have raised concerns about noise levels and the strain the facilities’ power and water usage could place on utility rates.

In other business, the council heard updates on efforts to bring Thomasville’s hospital out of receivership, with an announcement on new partnerships possibly coming by September; ongoing talks with three prospective economic development projects; and progress on the West Alabama Highway project, including paving work on the Dixon Mills bypass. The council also discussed financing options for five new police vehicles, approved the hiring of a part-time police training instructor, a part-time custodian and a full-time utility service worker, and addressed beaver-related flooding concerns along Dummy Line Road, near the proposed data center site.

How annexation works

Alabama law allows a city to annex land that touches its existing limits when the property owners petition to be brought in, which is why Day said annexation would require the owners’ approval. Once land is annexed, it becomes subject to the city’s zoning, noise and business-license ordinances, including the ordinances Powell said need updating to address data centers.

Thomasville sits in Clarke County, whose commissioners have said the county has no zoning and little legal authority over where a data center or other development can locate outside city limits.