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Jackson County commission debates noise, water use, setbacks and emergency rules in HDCF ordinance draft
Summary
During a work session on a draft High Density Computing Facilities ordinance, the Jackson County Zoning Commission debated a 50 dBA noise cap with a low-frequency adjustment, mandatory closed-loop cooling tied to IDNR approval for exceptions, setbacks (1,000 ft from occupied structures, 500 ft from property lines), emergency plans, and requirements on permanent foundations and waste handling.
Jackson County—s zoning commission spent a multi-hour work session reviewing a draft High Density Computing Facilities (HDCF) ordinance intended to regulate data centers, crypto-mining, and other high-density computing operations. Staff framed the draft as an umbrella approach to evolving technologies and proposed periodic updates, including a three-year review cycle.
Key policy elements drew sustained discussion. Noise and vibration: staff proposed capping noise at 50 decibels (matching the county—s wind ordinance) and adding an optional tonal/low-frequency adjustment allowing a +5 dBA evaluation when testing detects a distinct low-frequency tone. Commissioners debated whether the low-frequency provision should be included and whether consistency with the wind ordinance was legally and practically desirable.
Cooling and water use: the draft would require closed-loop or air-cooled systems and prohibit once-through/open-loop water cooling. The commission discussed a limited exception process: the Board of Adjustment could consider alternative cooling if the applicant provides a certified engineering report showing no net consumptive groundwater use and compliance with Iowa DNR (IDNR) water allocation or discharge requirements.
Sanitary facilities and permitting: commissioners debated three options for requiring connection to public sewer and water (required where service exists; required within a defined distance; or required unless IDNR approves a private system). Multiple commissioners noted that septic permitting and sanitary standards are administered by the county health department and recommended tying any connection requirement to IDNR or health-department approvals rather than an absolute county mandate.
Setbacks and buffers: staff and commissioners favored mirroring wind-energy setbacks in part, proposing 1,000 feet from occupied structures (to include residences, schools, places of worship and cemeteries) and 500 feet from property lines, with the Board of Adjustment authorized to require greater setbacks where site conditions merit. Commissioners discussed whether setbacks should be measured from structure footprints or property lines and agreed to default language covering occupied structures and cemeteries.
Safety, utility, and emergency provisions: the draft requires utility load confirmation showing adequate electrical capacity or upgrades at the operator—s expense, submission of emergency power shutoff plans and 24-hour contact information for operator and utility, and a fire response plan approved by the nearest fire department. The draft also outlines timelines for catastrophic failures and decommissioning (notification to supervisors within 30 days of a catastrophic event, cleanup initiation within 45 days and a 120-day decommissioning window in the draft language).
Other provisions considered include structural standards (permanent concrete foundations and prohibition of cargo containers or portable trailers as primary computing enclosures), secondary containment for coolants and batteries, hazardous waste and e-waste disposal timelines (removal within 15 days of generation; records retained for five years), exterior lighting limits (downcast, shielded, no more than 0.2 foot-candles at property lines), and screening/fencing consistent with substation standards.
Staff will revise the draft to reflect the commission—s direction; the commission intends to continue review at its next meeting on Dec. 15. Staff also noted a moratorium on certain developments through August while drafting proceeds and told commissioners that a supervisors— public hearing on the zoning ordinance draft is scheduled for Nov. 25 at 8:30 a.m.
Representative quotations in the discussion included staff—s proposal to "not exceed 50 decibels" for noise and the draft provision that "high density computing facilities shall use closed loop...or air cooled systems; open loop once-through water cooling systems are prohibited." The commission asked staff to bring diagrams and clarified that applications would require interdepartmental review before scheduling public hearings.
