Planning commission refers draft data-center regulations back to Study Review Committee
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Summary
After fiscal court returned a set of competing recommendations, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 9–0 to send the draft Section 250-340 data center ordinance back to the Study Review Committee (SRC) for further review and public vetting; the data center moratorium remains in effect until new regulations are adopted.
The Oldham County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on March 24 to send proposed data-center regulations (proposed Section 250-340) back to the Study Review Committee for additional review and revision.
Ryan Fisher, planning staff, told commissioners that the Planning Commission had approved a draft last October and forwarded it to fiscal court; fiscal court sent the draft back in February with a set of competing magistrate recommendations. "What's before us today is discussion on what we think needs to happen with those regulations," Fisher said.
Commissioners discussed three options: send the draft back to SRC for detailed review, hold another public hearing before the Planning Commission, or present a revised document directly to fiscal court. Several commissioners favored returning the draft to SRC to reconcile conflicting magistrate suggestions and provide transparent deliberation in a public SRC forum. Commissioner Douglas moved to refer the draft to SRC for the April 23, 2026 SRC meeting; Commissioner Krauss seconded the motion.
Legal counsel/staff clarified that a moratorium on data center approvals remains in effect until fiscal court adopts regulations or a court challenge alters that status. "The moratorium will stay in effect until such time as the fiscal court passes data center regulations," counsel stated.
The motion to send the draft back to SRC passed by roll call, 9–0. Staff noted SRC meets the fourth Thursday of each month and listed the earliest scheduling steps; the earliest the Planning Commission could next take the item would be its May 26 meeting depending on SRC timing.
The referral is procedural: it sends the draft back for more detailed review and does not change current moratorium status or adopt new regulations.
