MARIETTA, GA — The Marietta City Council could vote Thursday evening to end its moratorium on data center development while introducing new restrictions on where the facilities can be built.

The proposed amendment would limit data centers to heavily industrialized areas of the city and require developers to obtain special land-use permits before moving forward with projects.

Marietta established its moratorium in July, with the temporary pause originally scheduled to remain in place through December.

Mayor Steve Tumlin says the proposed changes are intended to protect surrounding neighborhoods and give the city council greater oversight of future developments.

“They would have to prove to the council that it won’t endanger any adjacent residential living, including hotels. That discretionary by the council probably would make it harder for one to pass,” Tumlin said.

The mayor says the restrictions would also help keep data centers away from schools, churches and residential areas.

“That was a good clear way to say that we don’t want it near schools, churches, and all of that. And so if there was a big one it would have to be approved in a special land use,” Tumlin said.

Tumlin also says Marietta does not have the electrical capacity to accommodate the massive data centers that have drawn opposition in other communities.

“We just want to define it, so we can move on and with practicality, we could never build 250-500 megawatts, that’s really off the table,” Tumlin said.

According to the mayor, the city’s local utility cannot support projects exceeding 20 megawatts.

Developers are also responding to the proposed changes.

Attorney Chuck Clay represents the developer of the 18-megawatt Prime Storage data center, which received approval in Marietta earlier this year.

Clay says the project will not affect the area’s water supply and is expected to benefit the local economy.

“This actually is helping the city selling power at the highest rate they can,” Clay said.

He also hopes the council’s proposal will address concerns about data center development.

“Alleviate fears, whether grounded or ungrounded, and give confidence that we’re bringing something that is going to improve the community and not ultimately be an albatross,” Clay said.

The discussion comes as several metro Atlanta communities, including DeKalb, Cobb and Cherokee counties, have implemented their own pauses on data center development.

Data centers were also an issue during last week’s midterm elections, with more than 40 proposals appearing on ballots across 10 states. All but one failed to pass.

The Marietta City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. after being moved back one day because of Veterans Day.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Graham Carroll contributed to this story.