LITTLE ROCK — AVAIO Data Partners (ADP), the firm behind a proposed data‑center development in Pulaski County, filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on Thursday, Nov. 4, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The company is asking the court to stop County Judge Barry Hyde and the county from enforcing a newly adopted ordinance that would regulate large‑scale data‑center projects.
Legal request and alleged harms
In its filing, ADP contends that the ordinance would impose burdensome requirements on electricity, water, noise, traffic, emergency response and environmental impacts, making the project financially untenable. The developer argues that without immediate court intervention, it would suffer irreparable harm, including lost investment and delayed construction.
Ordinance background
Pulaski County officials have been working over the past year to craft regulations aimed at mitigating the potential strain that data‑center facilities can place on local infrastructure. The ordinance, approved by the county quorum court earlier this year, requires developers to submit detailed impact studies and obtain permits covering utility usage, traffic mitigation plans, and environmental safeguards.
County officials say the rules are intended to protect residents and preserve resources for the community. They point to the rapid growth of data‑center projects nationwide and the need for local oversight to ensure that such facilities do not overwhelm existing services.
County response and upcoming leadership change
County Judge Barry Hyde, who signed the ordinance, has not yet commented publicly on the lawsuit. He is slated to be succeeded by Wendell Griffen, who will assume office in January 2027. The transition may affect how the county proceeds with the ordinance, but the current legal challenge must be resolved before any policy shift.
Freedom of Information Act request
The motion also asks the court to compel the county and Justice of the Peace Julie Blackwood to achieve “immediate and complete compliance” with an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request filed by ADP. The request seeks internal communications and documents related to the drafting and adoption of the ordinance.
What’s next?
The federal judge has not yet ruled on the preliminary injunction. If granted, the county would be barred from enforcing the ordinance until the underlying lawsuit is resolved. If denied, ADP would have to comply with the new rules while continuing its legal challenge.
Local observers note that the case highlights a growing tension between economic development interests and community resource protection. While data‑center projects promise jobs and tax revenue, they also raise concerns about water usage, power demand and traffic congestion in a region already grappling with growth pressures.
KATV has reached out to Pulaski County for comment and will update the story as the court’s decision becomes known.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
