Stand with Rockdale: Sign the petition
Your voice matters. Join your neighbors in opposing the rezoning of residential land to M2 General Industrial in Rockdale County. Learn why this issue is critical for our community and how your signature can make a difference.
Why we oppose this rezoning
Nearly 7,000 residents live within one mile of the proposed site. Rezoning residential land to M2 General Industrial permanently changes the character of our community. Public safety questions remain unanswered, as large-scale lithium-ion battery storage facilities have experienced serious fires in other states, and adequate emergency planning has not been confirmed.
Rockdale is already bearing an industrial burden. Residents near existing data center construction have reported structural damage to their homes, noise, and stormwater runoff—with no accountability. Furthermore, community input was insufficient. Many residents were unaware of this application. A project affecting thousands requires more than mailers before a vote is taken.
Your signature makes a difference
The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners has not voted yet. The decision on Rezoning Case R2025-13 comes at their next scheduled BOC meeting, which means there is still time to influence the outcome. Commissioners pay attention to organized, documented opposition. A petition with hundreds of signatures from actual Rockdale County residents and taxpayers tells the board that this rezoning has real community resistance—not just a few voices at one meeting.
Your signature creates a documented, numbered record of opposition that CJ Lester Investigates will physically submit to the Board of Commissioners before the vote. It is not symbolic; it goes on the record. The number matters too. Amanda Kirkland told the board Thursday night that roughly 6,800 residents live within one mile of this site. If even a fraction of those residents sign, that's a powerful counterweight to the two outside voices who showed up to support the project.
Who should sign and who will see it?
We are hoping for signatures from Rockdale County residents, taxpayers, and property owners—especially those who live in or near the Rockbridge Road and Farmer Road corridor. People who attend or worship at churches in the area, parents whose children attend nearby schools, and anyone who believes a rezoning of this magnitude deserves more community input before a vote is taken, are encouraged to sign.
This petition will be presented to the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners—specifically at or before the next scheduled BOC meeting where a vote on Rezoning Case R2025-13 is expected to take place. The petition will be submitted as part of the public record on this case.
Important disclosures and what to know
Disclosure front and center: People signing should know that this petition is organized by CJ Lester Investigates, the journalist covering this story. This is being stated clearly so no one feels misled.
What the petition cannot do: A petition does not legally bind the board to vote any particular way. What it does is create documented, organized public pressure and goes on the official record. Managing expectations keeps our credibility intact.
Signatures must be from real people: We are asking for real names and real communities—not anonymous submissions. That's what gives the petition weight when we hand it to commissioners. Fake or duplicate signatures would undermine the entire effort.
What happens after the vote: Even if the board approves the rezoning, the petition still matters. It documents that the community objected, which is relevant for future actions and accountability.
Thank you for your support. Your involvement is crucial to holding government accountable and giving our local communities a voice. For more information, please contact us at [[email]] or [[phonenumber]].