Effingham County Residents Sue to Overturn OpenAI Zoning Change

Three residents of Effingham County filed a lawsuit on September 2 in Effingham County Superior Court to overturn Ordinance 2026-352. The ordinance, approved on August 4, changed zoning laws to allow data centers in industrial areas, a move the plaintiffs claim was designed to facilitate OpenAI's Project Camellia.

Dr. Michelle Finch-Mincey, Lehman Mincey Jr., and Raymond Carver allege that county commissioners violated state law and local rules by approving the change without required public hearings before the Planning Board and the County Commission. The lawsuit further alleges nontransparent negotiations and conflicts of interest, specifically citing a nondisclosure agreement between County Manager Tim Callanan and OpenAI OpCo LLC.

Effingham County officials have defended the project as a major economic driver capable of creating over 1,000 jobs and generating tax revenue for infrastructure and schools. Commissioner Phil Kieffer stated the project did not require a vote because the property was already zoned for industrial use. While the lawsuit does not seek to halt the construction of the proposed $20 billion, 1,400-acre campus, it challenges the legality of the zoning process.