COVINGTON — Developers of a prospective data center are asking to have the approximately 98-acre site at 10835 Hazelbrand Road annexed into the city of Covington in order to move forward with the project.
The property, which is developed with a 498,960-square-foot warehouse/distribution facility, is zoned M-2 (heavy industrial) in unincorporated Newton County. According to Planning and Zoning Director Judy Thagard, under Newton County’s zoning ordinance, data centers are allowed only in the Stanton Springs Overlay in unincorporated areas. Covington’s zoning code allows data centers in M-1 and M-2 zoning districts.
The City Council unanimously approved the first reading of the annexation petition at its Dec. 16 meeting. The petition will be brought back before the council for a second reading before final approval…