Shadowbox Appeal to Submit Data Center Application DENIED

Yesterday, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) voted to uphold and affirm the DeKalb County Planning Department’s decision not to accept an application from Shadowbox Studios for a “change of use” from their previously approved movie studio expansion to a hyperscale AI data center. This is what it could mean for the future of mega data centers in DeKalb.

What was before the ZBA was an appeal to either affirm or reverse a prior decision by the Planning Department regarding Shadowbox Studios’ land use.  Shadowbox attempted to file an application to change their Land Disturbance Permit (LDP) to allow for development of a data center, rather than expand their movie studios, in spite of the moratorium currently in place. However, because the people’s data center moratorium was already in effect, the Planning Department staff appropriately declined to accept or review their application. This was the right decision, as the moratorium prohibits consideration of any applications to develop data centers in DeKalb County. 

Shadowbox took issue with this outcome, arguing that the people’s data center moratorium is invalid and should not not apply to them.  So, they appealed the Planning Department’s decision, asking the ZBA to reconsider whether it was appropriate to decline to review their application. Shadowbox attempted to overrule the will of the people, arguing that developers’ rights should be prioritized over our communities’ wants, needs, and well-being.

Since the ZBA upheld and affirmed the Planning Department’s prior determination, the  application cannot be considered until the data center moratorium is lifted.  Therefore, Shadowbox’s data center proposal is now stalled and cannot go forward, pending the outcome of the Superior Court case they filed against the people of Dekalb County last month.  

While this represents another hard-fought victory for DeKalb residents, we must continue to demand that the CEO and Board of Commissioners vigorously defend the people’s rights.  Because this lawsuit was filed in the DeKalb County Superior Court, it will be considered independently of the ZBA decision.   

Again, we want to emphasize that this is a victory for DeKalb residents who have spent the past year resisting hyperscale AI data center development in OUR County.  This is OUR home.

Thanks for your conviction and continued engagement.  The fight goes on!

In solidarity ✊,

DeKalb Citizens Coalition