Jones County postpones vote on zoning text amendment to allow data centers in C‑1 district

The Jones County Board of Commissioners opened discussion Sept. 2 on a proposed text amendment to the county land‑use code to allow data centers as a conditional use in the C‑1 (commercial) district, then voted to postpone action so members could review staff drafts and take more time to study environmental impacts.

Planning staff described the requested action as the beginning of the text‑amendment process to create new or revised CLDR sections (referenced in the staff report as sections 30, 32.24, 37, 73, 13.9 and a new 96.7) to permit data centers conditionally. Staff said the planning commission recommended approval of the amendment but provided staff comments and that several versions of an environmental‑impact study had been circulated to the board.

One commissioner asked whether the item had to be voted on that night; staff replied it did not. Multiple commissioners asked for more time to review the drafts and substantive environmental analysis. A motion to postpone was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The postponement leaves the proposal in the initial text‑amendment stage; staff will provide revised draft language and the environmental‑impact materials for future consideration.