Data Center in Land Use table in Zoning Ordinance –Irwin County 2026-04-06

The Irwin County Data Center Ordinance table rows about which zoning districts can have a Data Center Special Exception have made their way into the composite Irwin County Zoning Ordinance.

It’s possible that for the Special Exception for Project Arrowhead that the Irwin County Commission passed on May 20, 2026 to be legal, it first needed the Data Center Ordinance they passed on April 6, 2026.

[Data Center in Land Use table in Zoning Ordinance --Irwin County 2026-04-06]
Data Center in Land Use table in Zoning Ordinance –Irwin County 2026-04-06

Curiously, the actual Data Center Ordinance is not included in the composite Zoning Ordinance that Irwin County sent me on June 29 in response to an open records request of the same day.

The Zoning Ordinance ends with Chapter 16, and the Data Center Ordinance says it is adding Chapter 27. I wonder what are the ordinances in Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26?

Anyway, here’s what those table rows look like in the Data Center Ordinance:

[27-5. Compliance and Enforcement; Land Use Section 5-2 Table]
27-5. Compliance and Enforcement; Land Use Section 5-2 Table
PDF

And here’s what they look like in the composite Zoning Ordinance:

[142. DATA CENTER, SE in AU, WLI, HI]
142. DATA CENTER, SE in AU, WLI, HI
PDF

Apparently those two rows were added in response to the Data Center Ordinance, because the cover page of the Zoning Ordinance has this note:

*Text amendment- April 6, 2026 Section 5.2 pg 38 lines 142 and 143

It was convenient that the review of the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) concluded on May 14, between the passing of the Data Center Ordinance and the passing of the Special Exception.

[Annotated Concept Site Plan, 2026-04-24 --Kimley-Horn annotated by SGRC]
Annotated Concept Site Plan, 2026-04-24 –Kimley-Horn annotated by SGRC
PDF

The Project Arrowhead site is uphill from the Alapaha River, and of course over the Floridan Aquifer, from which it plans to draw its water.

[Map: Ponderosa Drive Creek and Alapaha River 2026-06-30 --ARWT]
Map: Ponderosa Drive Creek and Alapaha River 2026-06-30 in the WWALS map of the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT)

There are more images below.

The entire composite Zoning Ordinance is on the WWALS website.

Many thanks to Jessica Harris, Irwin County Interim Chief Appraiser, for sending that document.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

DCO

[Ordinance No.1 of 2026: DATA CENTERS]
Ordinance No.1 of 2026: DATA CENTERS
PDF

[27-2. Definitions and 27.3. Applicability]
27-2. Definitions and 27.3. Applicability
PDF

[27-4. Standards]
27-4. Standards
PDF

[(d) Water Usage Standards]
(d) Water Usage Standards
PDF

[27-5. Compliance and Enforcement; Land Use Section 5-2 Table]
27-5. Compliance and Enforcement; Land Use Section 5-2 Table
PDF

[PASSED, ADOPTED AND ORDAINED THIS 6TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026.]
PASSED, ADOPTED AND ORDAINED THIS 6TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026.
PDF

ZO

[ZONING ORDINANCE FOR IRWIN COUNTY, GEORGIA, ADOPTED January 14, 2000, ..., *Text amendment- April 6, 2026 Section 5.2 pg 38 lines 142 and 143]
ZONING ORDINANCE FOR IRWIN COUNTY, GEORGIA, ADOPTED January 14, 2000, …, *Text amendment- April 6, 2026 Section 5.2 pg 38 lines 142 and 143
PDF

ZD

[SECTION 4: ZONING DISTRICTS; 4.1.1 A-U Agricultural Use]
SECTION 4: ZONING DISTRICTS; 4.1.1 A-U Agricultural Use
PDF

[4-1-9 WLI Wholesale-Light Industrial District, 4-1.10 H-I Heavy Industrial District, 4-1.11 C-A Adult Commercial]
4-1-9 WLI Wholesale-Light Industrial District, 4-1.10 H-I Heavy Industrial District, 4-1.11 C-A Adult Commercial
PDF

LUT

[Table: SECTION 5-2 LAND USE]
Table: SECTION 5-2 LAND USE
PDF

[Page 23]
Page 23
PDF

[Page 24]
Page 24
PDF

[Page 25]
Page 25
PDF

[Page 26]
Page 26
PDF

[Page 27]
Page 27
PDF

[Page 28]
Page 28
PDF

[Page 29]
Page 29
PDF

[Page 30]
Page 30
PDF

[Page 31]
Page 31
PDF

[Page 32]
Page 32
PDF

[Page 33]
Page 33
PDF

[Page 34]
Page 34
PDF

[Page 35]
Page 35
PDF

[Page 36]
Page 36
PDF

[Page 37]
Page 37
PDF

[Page 38]
Page 38
PDF

[Page 39]
Page 39
PDF

DC

[142. DATA CENTER, SE in AU, WLI, HI]
142. DATA CENTER, SE in AU, WLI, HI
PDF

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