We call for an immediate moratorium on all new data center approvals, to include the data center CAMPUS being proposed on 4H Club Rd.  This moratorium includes construction permits, expansions, tax incentives, and ordinance compliance, until a comprehensive independent citizen-led review can be conducted with transparency and REASONABLE public participation, past what has already occurred.  

The stipulations in the new ordinance have not been met in the case of the new proposed data center off of 4H Club Road.
The developers have not given full information on the following stipulations outlined in the ordinance: 

• water cooling systems must be air-cooled or closed loop systems.  No information given on the proposal.
• noise must be kept at 65 decibels during the day and 60 at night.  No information about noise is given on the proposal.
• the ordinance requires information about nearby road changes and details about how that will affect traffic.  The proposal only says 4H Club Rd may need to be repaved. 
• the ordinance requires that details are given about landscaping, the proposal only says that yes, trees and landscaping will be done, but gives no specific information on how. 
• the ordinance requires that building height be stated before approval.  The proposal says nothing about building height (despite there being 7 buildings proposed)
• the ordinance requires that the proposal outlines how much power may be needed and how it will affect current infrastructure.   No such information is outlined in the proposal
• the ordinance puts the burden of notifying residents in the immediate vicinity to the changes that will take place, which would allow citizens adequate time to be fully informed.   The proposal does not state if or how that has been done.  
• the ordinance requires a 500ft buffer between the proposed building site and residential spaces; this is the one area that the proposal outlined and agreed to.  
    

As you can see, only one single stipulation from the ordinance is fully outlined in the proposal so far.  The others are either absent completely or not well defined.  
This is not just a single data center being proposed, either.  It is a CAMPUS consisting of 7 buildings.  Existing roads will need to be repaved and possibly moved, but the proposal gives very little information about that.  

As a REQUIREMENT, developers SHOULD NOT be able to gain acceptance without every single stipulation being completely outlined, and Augusta Business and Planning should require data center proposals to be 100% complete before approval.  This proposal as it is, is not informed consent. 

Furthermore, the general public has NOT been given adequate time to be notified of, or even be a part of, the conversation. With some citizens having this data center proposed within close proximity of their residence, being fully informed is bare minimum.  

We the people DEMAND a special election to vote on the moratorium after several community meetings of differing times and days so that everyone may reasonably attend.  Ideally, an evening meeting on a Tuesday and a morning meeting on Wednesday, a midday meeting another day.  
There needs to be adequate time to get public participation in a fair way.  One meeting at 3pm on a Monday is not sufficient.   Most Augustans cannot attend due to work and school.   Surely the council is aware of this, and surely it is not being done on purpose.   We demand transparency and accountability.  

This is not a petition against technology. It is a petition for responsible development, property rights, environmental stewardship, and community involvement.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for Augusta's land, water, communities, and future.  By signing this petition, you are demanding that the city of Augusta looks out for the best interests of the residents, and that a moratorium is put in place until adequate information is given to every resident affected.  By signing this petition, you are asking the city to hold the developers accountable by requiring all of the relevant details, outlined in the ordinance, are in writing.  

As Commissioner Jordan Johnson stated in a previous meeting, "Augusta deserves better!" 
We cannot agree more!!  

Together, we can ensure that growth is responsible, transparent, and in the best interests of the people in Augusta and the entire CSRA.