BESSEMER, Ala. (WBMA) — A proposed 700-acre data center in Jefferson County is facing strong opposition from local residents. The site, located near Rock Mountain Lake Road in Bessemer, would require a zoning change from agricultural to industrial to accommodate the development, which includes 18 buildings, each 250,000 square feet.
Ron Morgan, who lives within 500 feet of the proposed site, expressed his concerns about the impact on his quality of life. "It would be intrusive. It would be ever present 24/7. Our quality of life would go in the toilet. We would probably pack up and move. I'm not sure where we'd go, how we could afford it, but I wouldn't live here, I wouldn't live around that. I don't want to live around an industrial park," said Morgan.
Marshall Killingsworth, another resident living nearby, shares similar concerns. The site would be located behind the home he has lived in for more than 40 years.
"We're dealing with noise, we are dealing with pollution. this particular land is rich, filled with ecology, we're talking about natural water sheds, we're talking about little blue creek runs through it. We're talking about a habitat for deer, turkey, you name it," said Killingsworth.
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Morgan, Killingsworth, and other residents were planning to voice their opposition to the zoning change at a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting being held Tuesday at Bessemer City Hall. The public meeting started at 4 p.m. and lasted nearly two hours. The meeting was packed with opposition, with every seat accounted for, with additional people standing around the room and in the hallway.
"Have you thought about the impact of the animals, the birds, the bees, the nature, in the area you're going to damage from that," one woman said to the planning and zoning commission.
Another man said, "Those things catch on fire, they burn good, so think about that."
The applicant requesting the zoning change is Logistic Land Investments LLC. who promised high paying and high quality jobs, and made assurances that traffic, environmental and noise studies would be done to ensure no impact. "What we are saying is that we have no choice but to adhere to the noise ordinance and we're here to tell you we have to do that and of course will do that and well do it in a way to ensure you see studies before we build."
The planning and zoning commission voted in 4-2 to approve the recommendation. Now the item will be sent to city council for the final decision.
ABC 33/40 reached out to Mayor Kenneth Gulley for more information. However, his Chief of Staff stated that he and the mayor, along with the city attorney, had signed a non-disclosure agreement, and had no comment at this time.
ABC 33/40 is still awaiting a response on how residents can be accurately informed about developments in their community given the city's current inability to discuss the proposal.