Sedgwick County planners hear widespread public concern over proposed data-center rules

Scott Wedel, a planner with the Wichita–Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department, opened an open house on data centers and said staff and a consultant will package public input and options for the Wichita–Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and its Advanced Plans Committee.

The meeting focused on potential changes to the comprehensive plan and the unified zoning code to define and regulate hyperscale data centers. Wedel told the crowd the county placed an interim control on data-center applications beginning Jan. 14 and running through June 12 (extended March 4) to allow review. He urged attendees to sign in and complete an online survey that will close on April 14; the MAPC Advanced Plans Committee meets monthly and is scheduled next for April 9 at 10:00.

The public comment period that followed was dominated by concerns about water use, electrical demand, noise and long-term environmental impacts. "I am very concerned about the water," said Dennis Grumbacher, a resident whose farm lies near proposed sites, warning that projects could demand "3,000,000 gallon[s] daily" and could affect wells and water access across counties. Several farmers, including Dawn Sootherman and Mark Young, emphasized the regional importance of water for agriculture.

Public-health concerns were voiced by Dr. Amy Siri, a local pediatrician: "Before we end up with 5,000 Flint, Michigan spread across this country, let's not be the next experimental zone," she said, urging at least a three-year moratorium while air, sound and water studies continue.

Joan Schneider, an attorney and longtime resident, recommended officials classify hyperscale facilities differently from smaller data centers, saying they should be treated more like manufacturing or mining because of their scale and resource use. She recommended limiting water use per square foot and prohibiting open water cooling systems.

Labor leaders urged safeguards to ensure local economic benefit. "We have an apprenticeship, and building and trades will be heavily involved," said Jameson Saldino, business manager for IBEW Local 271, who said construction could create multiyear careers if local trades are used. Other speakers urged companies to provide binding guarantees—trusts or letters of credit—to cover cleanup or community impacts.

Several commenters highlighted state policy context and tax incentives. One attendee noted Kansas Senate Bill 98, which the speaker described as creating a 20-year, 100% state and local tax exemption for data centers, and said that constraint increases the importance of local regulatory safeguards and conditions.

Speakers also raised privacy and ethical concerns about the data processed in such facilities, and some asked how residents could participate in future decisions; Wedel explained that zoning and regulatory changes would follow the MAPC recommendation process and that zoning cases leading to an application would include public hearings before elected bodies.

No formal motions or votes occurred at the open house. Wedel said staff will compile the comments, white papers (including the Berkeley Group report), and other research into options for the Advanced Plans Committee and the full MAPC, which will then recommend actions to the city council and county commission. Organizers encouraged further written comments and said the project team will hold additional meetings as needed.

The next procedural steps: staff will close the survey on April 14 and submit a public-input package to the MAPC Advanced Plans Committee; the committee and full MAPC will consider options and make recommendations to elected bodies for any zoning or comp-plan amendments.