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Miami County Plan Commission tables data-center moratorium for 30 days, schedules March public hearing
Summary
The commission agreed to delay action on proposed moratorium language and advertise a March public hearing; residents voiced concerns about power, water use and tax benefits during public comment and asked for more time and information before any ordinance is adopted.
The Miami County Plan Commission voted to table consideration of a proposed data-center moratorium for 30 days and to advertise a public hearing in March after commissioners debated where data centers should be permitted.
Commissioner Brent Pomerhn moved to table the moratorium and advertise a hearing; Tim Alwine seconded and the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members recorded as voting yes. Chair Brad Fruth and other members discussed restricting data centers to Business and Industrial zoning or areas near Grissom Air Force Base, and stressed that any new local definition would need to be added to the Table of Authorized Uses in the zoning ordinance.
Residents who spoke during public comment urged caution. Tori Pindell said, "Allowing the data center to come in from Fulton County is a bad idea." Bob Johnson raised capacity and resource concerns, telling the commission he had heard talk of "100-megawatt usage and several gallons of water a day." Chair Fruth responded to procedural questions by noting, "The Indiana Code has a procedure that has to be followed, so a moratorium cannot be passed today."
Commissioners and staff also discussed state oversight: Brad Fruth warned that IDEM and the Department of Natural Resources already regulate some environmental aspects and that the county would need to consider enforcement capacity if it sought stricter local requirements. Planning staff said the proposed ordinance should explicitly define "data center" and list where the use would be allowed.
The moratorium will remain on the table for 30 days while staff prepares the proposed ordinance language and public-notice materials; a public hearing will be held in March at the time and location published by the county.
