Gage County supervisors send data-center review to planning and zoning after water, tax concerns

The Gage County Board of Supervisors voted April 1 to send a review of regulations for data centers and other large industrial users to the county Planning & Zoning Commission, after supervisors spent more than an hour debating water availability, property values and the message a moratorium might send to prospective investors.

The board’s discussion — which began with a proposal to consider a temporary moratorium on data centers — focused on two competing priorities: protecting limited water resources and residents’ quality of life, and attracting investment to broaden the county’s tax base. The motion, moved by Supervisor Haxby and seconded by Supervisor Jurgens, asked Planning & Zoning to review possible industrial/data-center regulations, hold public hearings as needed, and return a recommendation to the board. The motion passed 7–0.

Why it matters: Gage County officials said the county is about 72% agricultural and that large new industrial users could materially affect water use and local services if not carefully regulated. Several supervisors said they were not opposed to business but wanted to ensure the permitting process fully evaluates water rights, power needs, setbacks and other community impacts.

The board’s chair flagged water as the top local resource concern, saying, "water's our number one resource" and urging that any review prioritize sustainability. Planning and zoning staff and others walked the board through how neighboring counties handle data centers — some treat them under industrial-use rules, while others have developed separate, data-center-specific regulations.

The county attorney advised that statutory procedures require public notice and hearings for regulation changes, and recommended that the board formally forward the question to Planning & Zoning so the commission can gather evidence, hold hearings if necessary and provide a legally defensible recommendation.

Planning & Zoning staff said they will invite the relevant Natural Resources District (NRD) to participate in review of any high-water-use proposals and that they typically notify nearby landowners (often working from a 1–2 mile radius and using local media and direct mail) to ensure public input. Staff indicated initial conversations would begin at the commission’s April 23 meeting and that the review will take time.

What the board decided: Rather than imposing an immediate moratorium, supervisors directed Planning & Zoning to evaluate industrial/data-center regulations and to hold public hearings if it determines they are necessary; the board recorded a unanimous vote to forward the request.

Next steps: Planning & Zoning will begin initial discussions on April 23. The commission’s review may result in proposed regulatory language, recommended setbacks, water-use conditions, or a recommendation on whether a temporary moratorium is appropriate; any formal changes would return to the board for additional hearings and votes.