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Albany County planners begin reviewing data‑center zoning options; joint work session planned
Summary
Commissioners discussed emerging interest in data centers and whether industrial‑park zoning could allow local controls; staff said a joint work session with the county commission and city council is planned in August to explore options and community benefits agreements.
Commissioners and planning staff discussed preliminary policy options for data centers during the July 8 planning commission meeting, including the possibility of designating industrial‑park zoning to allow local regulation rather than proceeding under state industrial siting rules.
David (planning staff) said the statutes currently address industrial siting and can preempt local authority, but the county is exploring an industrial‑park designation as a way to define zoning that could include data centers. "We're kind of looking going that route to look into industrial parks... that may be an industrial park zone and then we put certain things in that zone and data centers would be one of them," David said.
Commissioners emphasized environmental and public‑health considerations. One commissioner pointed to a recent situation in the region—Cheyenne's Microsoft facility—where the city limited wastewater acceptance; commissioners said Albany should monitor developments and learn from other jurisdictions. "We have to make sure that it's not just the environment. It's also human health," a commissioner said, adding the county should be educated about different sizes of data centers and their water requirements.
Staff said there are no active data‑center proposals in Albany County at this time and that a joint work session with the Board of County Commissioners and the city council is expected in August to discuss industrial siting, what the county can regulate and potential community benefits agreements. Commissioners signaled interest in tracking model legislation and community benefit agreements that other jurisdictions have used to secure local protections or public benefits from large facilities.
Next steps: planning staff will prepare background materials and present information at a joint work session with the BOCC and city council in August; staff suggested the commission be updated as proposals or statutory changes evolve.
