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Supervisors weigh data‑center zoning and proposed 2.25‑mile setback for gas plants
Summary
Planning staff will post draft zoning code for data centers Jan. 12 and take it to the Planning & Zoning Commission Jan. 20; supervisors discussed a draft ordinance to site gas‑fired power plants countywide and one supervisor proposed a 2.25‑mile setback from residentially zoned areas based on pollutant‑radius modeling.
Charlie Nichols, Linn County’s planning and development director, told the board the department is preparing zoning code and staff reports for data centers and will post a draft on the county website Jan. 12 ahead of a Jan. 20 Planning & Zoning Commission hearing.
Nichols said several large projects may come online that will require additional staff resources and new standard operating procedures for managing sprawling, multi‑building sites such as data‑center campuses and energy projects. He said Duane Arnold Energy Center activity is expected to require staff time for training and permitting and that Google has announced a partnership with NextEra in the Duane Arnold area.
On power‑plant siting, supervisors discussed drafting a gas‑fired power‑plant zoning ordinance that would apply countywide. One supervisor cited public‑health modeling provided to county public‑health staff showing a pollutant impact radius of about 2.22 miles and proposed using a 2.25‑mile setback from residentially zoned areas (including within city limits such as Fairfax and parts of Cedar Rapids) to mitigate health and economic impacts. Staff said setbacks, light and sound impacts, water use, and property‑value effects would be factors in drafting siting criteria and that the county will take comments and refine the ordinance drafting before bringing code back for formal review and possible vote.
Nichols also reported that planning staff had a unanimous recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission to approve a rezoning for the Duane Arnold Energy Center to an exclusive‑use zoning district; the board will receive the rezoning case, a host‑community agreement, and a memorandum of understanding to cover pre‑operational costs on a future agenda.
The board asked staff to return materials for review and public comment when the draft ordinances are ready.
