Port Washington council reviews new ‘technology campus’ zoning for potential data center; first reading held

Port Washington’s Common Council on April 7 held a first reading of an ordinance to add a Technology Campus zoning district intended to govern possible data center development on the city’s north side. The council reviewed draft standards for allowable uses, site design, lighting and sound but took no final vote; a public hearing and second reading are scheduled.

The ordinance, introduced by staff, would add a new industrial district to chapter 485 of the city zoning code to accommodate “high-technology” uses including data centers while limiting unrelated heavy industrial or standalone warehouse uses. City staff said the draft text emphasizes reforestation-style landscaping, deep setbacks and building and rooftop screening to reduce visual impacts on nearby roads and properties.

Bob Harris, planning staff, summarized the draft: “The focus really centers on uses permitted. We want to avoid this becoming just one other industrial zoning district,” and he said the draft sets standards for “full cutoffs on all lighting fixtures” to limit sky glow and requires a maximum of 70 decibels measured at the property line for operational sound. Harris said the code also allows high sound walls as needed to meet the decibel standard.

Sam Schultz, a land use and development advisor with Von Briesen and Roper who was on hand for technical questions, said 24-foot sound walls are a common mitigation height and that the ordinance’s landscaping requirements are unusually extensive. “Between that and the [sound wall] it is pretty intense,” Schultz said, adding that roadside traffic often contributes more ambient noise than adjacent uses.

Mayor [name not specified] presented background the city has compiled about data centers—economic valuation, utility needs and potential impacts—saying the city had worked with state and regional partners on site assessment and that any final development would be governed by the new code. The mayor and staff noted neighbors’ concerns about noise, lights and construction impacts and stressed the draft’s design standards aim to reduce those effects.

Council members and staff emphasized the ordinance is a first reading and that the text will be reworked after additional public input. The planning commission forwarded the draft to council; staff said the item will return for public hearing and action on April 15. Members of the public were invited to submit written questions to economicdevelopment@cityofportwashington.wi.gov.

Next steps: second reading and public hearing April 15; further edits to the draft are expected after that hearing.