Jones County commissioners adopt comprehensive-plan text amendment to set standards for data centers

The Jones County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 16 adopted a text amendment to the county's comprehensive plan that establishes countywide standards for data centers and prescribes when additional environmental study is required.

The amendment, approved on a 4-1 vote, adopts staff'recommended language on environmental impact studies and other staff comments that planning staff and the planning and zoning commission recommended earlier this year. Commissioner comments and public testimony focused on noise, water use, and siting; the board declined a proposed amendment that would have narrowed when the county could require additional environmental study.

Why it matters: The text change does not approve any specific data center application. Instead, it creates a regulatory framework and standards the county would apply should an operator file a conditional-use application. Commissioners and planning staff said the change is intended to ensure the county can evaluate and, where necessary, require further study of environmental, cultural or community impacts before a project proceeds.

Planning staff presentation and board discussion

Tim Petrovsky, staff member, told the board the amendment is a countywide change to the comprehensive plan and is not an approval of any particular project. He said the planning commission recommended approval of the text change with staff comments and an additional section to increase environmental-impact-study standards.

A commissioner who introduced the motion said there is no…