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Cottage Grove plan commission adopts 12‑month moratorium on data‑center projects
Summary
The Plan Commission approved a 12‑month moratorium on data‑center development, citing gaps in zoning and time needed to study noise, water use and other impacts; the statute allows a six‑month extension if needed.
The Village of Cottage Grove Plan Commission on Wednesday approved a 12‑month moratorium on commercial data‑center development, with the legal authority to extend the pause for an additional six months under state law.
During a public hearing, Barbara Schleifer, who said she lives in the town (not the village), urged the commission to adopt a moratorium, saying data centers can harm communities “in the way of noise, pollution, and… using resources.” Aaron, a village staff member, said the village’s zoning does not anticipate large‑scale data‑center projects and that other jurisdictions have used moratoriums to buy time for ordinance updates.
Commissioners asked whether the village could adopt an 18‑month pause. Bill, the village’s legal counsel on Zoom, advised that state statute permits a 12‑month moratorium with a possible six‑month extension, and recommended approving a 12‑month moratorium while preserving the option to extend. One commissioner reported driving past a Beaver Dam data center and described loud cooling towers and water use concerns.
After discussion about a draft exemption for buildings under 10,000 square feet (intended to avoid capturing ordinary in‑house IT rooms), a commissioner moved to approve the ordinance with the moratorium set at 12 months; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The commission directed staff to coordinate with Dane County, which is preparing guidelines through its advisory work on data centers, and said the village will revisit comp plan or zoning changes after county recommendations and local research. The ordinance language, including any square‑footage exemption, can be adjusted before final local code changes.
