The Jackson Planning and Development Department on Friday held a public forum about data centers amid a city debate over a proposed project.
“What we’re trying to do today is just have a conversation so that we can educate ourselves about what makes sense for us, said Jackson Mayor John Horhn at the start of the meeting. “Do we want this in our community? And if so, under what conditions?”
The meeting, billed as a public education forum, was announced just two days before it was held. It was unclear why there was such short notice. About 30 people attended. They were allowed to submit written questions, some of which were addressed during the meeting.
During the nearly hour-and-a-half long meeting, panelists covered topics including what artificial intelligence and data centers are, how many jobs data centers might bring, and what communities can do to get the most benefit from the projects.
“I always encourage the city, these companies have deep pockets. When they’re coming to the table, they know that you have something of value and you should demand the same in return,” said panel speaker Nashlie Sephus, founder of the Bean Path, a tech education nonprofit in Jackson.
Other panelists included James Lott, Ward 6 Alderman in Clinton; and Natasha Parker with the Georgia Institute of Technology Real Estate and Development Office.
The meeting was facilitated by Butler Snow attorneys Tray Hairston and Charity Karanja. Hairston said that Butler Snow serves as the city’s outside counsel on public finance and other matters, and the company was asked to moderate the panel.
Hairston said the city would summarize the questions and publish answers online.
Hands across the room went up when Angela Brown, the director of the city’s Planning and Development Department, asked if anybody had learned something at the forum.
Some attendees said that they found the panel helpful. Others said they wished there was time to ask follow-up questions and some were skeptical.
“The meeting was informative, in terms of giving a profile of all the different forms of data centers,” said Sabir Abdul-Haqq, director of public engagement at Mississippi for a Just World. But he added that he would have liked to hear from the perspective of someone more opposed to data centers.
“I think this was a missed opportunity for our community,” Abdul-Haqq said.
Data centers have rapidly been proposed across Mississippi and the country. At the beginning of 2025, Mississippi had announced two projects. It now has seven in the works. The projects have faced growing pushback from residents.
The developer of the proposed Jackson project, New Jersey-based Saxum Investment Company, is asking the city to rezone 230 acres of land from mostly residential and commercial to heavy industrial use in northwest Jackson. Most of the land has never been developed and is still covered by trees and brush. However, there is a small, 2-acre farm in the middle of the land.
In May, Ward 4 Council Member Brian Grizzell proposed a six-month ban on any data-center construction or permitting to give the council time to understand the issue and put needed regulations in place. The proposal cited concerns over a data centers’ potential environmental pollution, noise pollution and impact on the city’s infrastructure.
The council debated the moratorium but ultimately voted to table the proposal to clarify the legal picture. The city attorney said that the moratorium could constitute a zoning change and would require a public hearing with a 15-day public notice.
A few days after the council vote, the developer postponed its zoning hearing before the city Planning Board. At the meeting, amid a crowd opposed to the project, the developer’s lawyer said that the company wanted time to talk with the city.
Fierce debate over the project has continued.
The Planning Board is currently scheduled to take up the rezoning application again during its June 24 meeting.
Editor’s note: Tray Hairston, an attorney with Butler Snow, serves on the Board of Directors of Deep South Today, the parent company of Mississippi Today.
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