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Commissioners direct Area Plan Commission to hold public hearing on 12‑month moratorium for data centers
Summary
Fayette County commissioners voted to instruct the Area Plan Commission to hold a public hearing and pursue a 12‑month moratorium on data centers so the APC can draft local regulations addressing AI-related and data‑center developments; commissioners also discussed the need to fill planning staff before the end of the year.
Bill McDaniel, speaking to the board on behalf of planning staff, asked commissioners to instruct the Area Plan Commission to schedule a public hearing and institute a 12‑month moratorium on data centers so the APC can prepare local regulations tailored to AI and large data‑center investments. McDaniel said the APC currently has “nothing” in county code that specifically addresses the unique issues these facilities raise and asked for time to research ordinances and gather data to weigh pros and cons.
Commissioners discussed the appointment process for the planning director and the practical need to have a trained replacement in place before the current staffer leaves later this year. McDaniel said Indiana code requires planning directors to have training and experience in planning and zoning and expressed concern that Fayette County’s pay scale makes it difficult to recruit experienced candidates; he recommended considering a recently trained planner with current knowledge of data‑center technology and impacts.
During the exchange, a commissioner moved to instruct the Area Plan Commission to hold the public hearing and pursue a 12‑month moratorium; another commissioner seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the pause would give the APC time to draft a local ordinance and gather the technical information necessary to regulate or permit large data‑center projects responsibly. McDaniel framed the moratorium as a temporary measure to allow the county to catch up with rapidly evolving facility designs and AI‑related infrastructure needs.
What comes next: The Area Plan Commission will hold the public hearing and begin drafting potential local regulations during the 12‑month period; commissioners urged coordination between the APC and county council to fund and fill the planning position needed to carry the work forward.
