The decision marks the second time the proposal has been denied in seven months after the county’s planning commission recommended rejection last month.
EdgeConneX, through East Village Dothan LLC, had scaled the original 736‑acre plan to 700 acres and 4.4 million square feet, but the scale still clashes with the county’s long‑term growth strategy.
Commissioner Henry Mitchell cast the lone vote against the denial, citing potential economic benefits, but the board overrode him to protect local infrastructure and water resources.
Residents of the Clinton Nature Preserve and neighboring communities raised alarms about noise, increased electricity demand, and possible contamination of the Dog River Basin that feeds the county’s main drinking‑water reservoir.
EdgeConneX officials say the campus could create 200 to 300 permanent jobs and boost county revenue, but the denial leaves them scrambling to find a new site that meets environmental and zoning standards.
The developer has not yet announced whether it will appeal the decision or pivot to a different location, but the vote leaves the 700‑acre parcel in limbo as local officials weigh future land‑use plans.