Whitley County directs planning commission to draft one-year moratorium on large data centers

The Whitley County Board of Commissioners voted July 6 to direct the planning commission to prepare an ordinance that would impose a one-year moratorium on large data-center development while the county finalizes zoning rules.

Planning Director Nathan Bilger told the board that "in Indiana, moratoriums are a zoning action similar to rezoning or text amendment," meaning a moratorium must be initiated either by the plan commission or the commissioners, sent to the plan commission for a public hearing and a recommendation, and then returned to the board for adoption. Bilger said the moratorium is commonly written to last up to one year and that a new code can repeal the moratorium when adopted.

A commissioner who moved the directive stressed the board's intent not to disrupt regular business operations, noting that many local companies have smaller on-site data-processing systems. "We don't want to affect normal operations," the commissioner said, and asked staff to craft language that would not shut down existing small or micro data centers.

Commissioners discussed letting the planning commission know if there were specific conditions to include in the ordinance, such as explicit protections for small, on-site data operations and an initial one-year duration with the possibility of extension if needed. Bilger also noted the state legislature is working on related matters, so the county's timeline could be coordinated with any state action.

The board approved the motion to direct the planning commission to draft the moratorium ordinance. Next steps: the planning commission will prepare language, hold the required public hearing and then return a recommendation to the commissioners for final action.