Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cass County planning panel temporarily bars data centers pending ordinance
Summary
The planning commission voted to remove data-processing/data-center uses from several zoning districts while staff drafts a dedicated data-center ordinance, citing the need for additional study and standards before permitting such facilities.
The Cass County Planning Commission voted to restrict data-processing and data-center uses across commercial and some industrial districts while staff prepares a separate ordinance for those uses.
Planning staff told the commission the county currently lacks specific standards for data centers and recommended the temporary change so applications cannot take advantage of permissive zoning while standards are developed. "If we don't have data-center language, those uses fall under data processing," planning staff said, noting the draft change would mark data processing as not allowed in the affected districts unless a special-exception review at the Board of Zoning Appeals is requested.
Public commenters supported the cautious approach. Mike Diedrich, a resident, said the county should take time to craft appropriate standards and avoid a backdoor that allows large data centers to locate without comprehensive review. "I think it's good to take the time necessary to develop an ordinance that may be acceptable down the road," he said.
The commission voted to mark data processing/data centers as ‘not allowed’ in the listed districts and to revisit the issue after staff completes a dedicated ordinance and public review.
The change is a recommendation to the county commissioners; if the commissioners adopt it, applicants would face new restrictions until the county adopts a data-center ordinance.
