A rezoning hearing for a potential data center in Jackson has been postponed until June. The applicant, Saxum Investment Company, requested the delay during a city Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, citing the need for more community and city engagement, according to attorney Robert Ireland of Watkins and Eager.
Saxum is seeking to rezone about 190 acres of mostly undeveloped land in northwest Jackson from residential and commercial to heavy industrial use. The site includes a horse track near the Presidential Hills neighborhood. The company aims to address concerns related to noise, emissions, utility burdens, and other issues through the city’s proposed data center standards, Ireland said.
The postponement came after residents voiced strong opposition during the meeting. Many criticized the lack of transparency in the process. Matt Casteel, whose family farm sits within the proposed site, said, “This process has not been transparent,” highlighting local resistance.
Meanwhile, the Jackson City Council is considering a six-month moratorium on new data center projects. Last week, council members tabled a proposed ordinance to study the impact of such projects before proceeding. City attorney’s office warned that the moratorium could violate due process if not properly noticed, but Council President Brian Grizzell defended it as a way to gather information.
During the meeting, Ireland noted that a data center similar in size to one proposed for Clinton could generate about $60 million for Jackson and more than $80 million for the school district over a decade. He emphasized the limited window for Jackson to attract such projects, which are part of a broader race among Mississippi and southern states to develop large-scale data centers for artificial intelligence and other tech needs.
Currently, Mississippi has seven confirmed data centers at various stages of development. While some local officials welcome the investment, others raise concerns about high energy consumption, water use, noise, and pollution. A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 22 in City Council chambers, where residents plan to voice their opinions on data centers and related zoning issues.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
