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Commission discusses model zoning language for data centers and local options for electric offsets
Summary
Perry County staff urged municipalities to consider model zoning amendments for data centers, short-term rentals, and agritourism; commissioners discussed nighttime noise limits and whether local ordinances can require electric offset percentages, and staff reported the PUC and DCED responses regarding municipal authority.
Staff presented draft comments on municipal zoning amendments that would add rules for data centers, warehousing, distribution, short-term rentals and agritourism. The commission discussed community impact analyses and nighttime noise thresholds (the draft cited nighttime decibel recommendations of 55 dB). Several commissioners expressed concern about the economic and rate impacts of large data centers and suggested including local electric-offset requirements in a model ordinance.
Staff reported outreach to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The PUC said it would check with higher authorities before offering a firm legal position; DCED’s local government services staff indicated that zoning is generally a municipal responsibility and that counties do not typically preempt local rules. Commissioners asked staff to prepare model ordinance language a municipality might adopt and to continue consulting DCED/PUC on any legal limits to municipal electric-offset requirements.
Commissioners voted to send the draft comment letter and encouraged staff to keep developing a model ordinance package municipalities can adapt when they are approached by developers proposing data centers or similar facilities.
