Small Alabama county takes step toward zoning after data center backlash

The Lowndes County Commission officially moved to establish planning and zoning policies during Monday’s meeting, a direct response to intensifying local backlash over a proposed data center. While the move represents a significant shift in how the rural county may manage future development, officials clarified that the resolution will not impact the $1.5 billion Project Red Clay facility currently under consideration.

A New Approach to Land Use

Lowndes County, which is home to approximately 9,500 residents west of Montgomery, has long functioned without zoning authority. Like other Alabama counties with unincorporated land, this absence of oversight has historically meant property owners could develop land without government approval. Commissioner Robert Harris, who championed the motion, noted that he has spent two decades advocating for zoning in the county.

"We can’t stop it because we don’t have planning and zoning," Harris said. "If we had planning and zoning, we wouldn’t even be here, at least for that piece of property up there." While he acknowledged that Monday’s vote won't halt the current project, he emphasized that the county is finally "putting things in place" for the future.

The Road Ahead

The resolution is only the first step in a lengthy process. The county's legal department must now review the policy, and the commission will eventually need to define specific districts for industrial, commercial, and residential use. Furthermore, the plan requires authorization from the Alabama State Legislature, which is not scheduled to resume session until February.

Inside the crowded courthouse, Commissioner Harris addressed residents who arrived brandishing "No data center" signs, warning that zoning would eventually dictate how citizens can use their own property. "You will be told what you can and cannot do with your property if this passes," he told the assembly.

Project Red Clay Details

The proposed $1.5 billion hyperscale facility would span 1,100 acres at the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and Alabama Highway 21 in Hayneville. Plans include six buildings totaling 3 million square feet with a power capacity reaching 1,500 megawatts—enough to supply roughly 1 million homes. Cloverleaf Infrastructure, which manages the project, states it will create between 50 and 200 permanent jobs and that it has not yet requested tax abatements from the county.

Regarding its development structure, the company informed 205focus.com that it uses the entity Sandstone Cliffs DevCo, LLC for Project Red Clay, noting that using single-purpose entities is "standard practice in real estate and infrastructure development."

Public Outcry

Tensions remained high throughout the meeting. Residents, who have been active in protesting and funding billboards, demanded greater transparency from local leaders. During the public comment period, resident Marvenita Scott urged the commission to acknowledge the community's concerns, while others requested independent environmental studies regarding water and energy usage.

When Commission Chairman Charlie King Jr. stated that the commission held no information back from the public, attendees shouted "Liar!" and vocal protests followed. As the evening progressed, Ryan Anderson, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, reminded the commission of its legal obligations to provide records, noting that a project of this magnitude must be handled with public oversight. "Transparency isn’t a courtesy that the commission extends to the public," Anderson said. "It’s the law."