Alliance City planning commission sets April 15 hearing on proposed data-center zoning

The Alliance City Planning Commission voted Feb. 18 to schedule a public hearing on April 15, 2026, to consider a proposed zoning change that would create a specific category for data centers, Safety Service Director Mike Dreger said.

Dreger told commissioners that council had referred an ordinance to the Planning Commission and that the commission must give 30 days’ public notice. "Because it's February with 28 days, that means April is going to be the soonest we can do it," he said, and added that the ordinance would likely allow data centers to locate in an Industrial Two zone. Dreger also reported that the city law director, Mr. Selwa, warned the city is "kind of exposed right now" because the existing code does not address data centers explicitly. Dreger said Pete Wearstler, director of planning and development, will present details at the hearing.

Commissioner Elayne Dunlap moved to approve scheduling the April 15 hearing; John Gross seconded and, according to the minutes, "All in favor" — the motion passed. Mark Locke, commission president, called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and adjourned it at 4:33 p.m. After the Planning Commission hearing the ordinance will be returned to council; Dreger said council would need to provide another 30 days’ notice, making a June 2 council meeting the earliest possible date for council action.

The hearing notice and the ordinance text were not included in the minutes; the commission did not record a roll-call vote in the minutes beyond the statement that all were in favor. The Planning Commission meeting was held in the second-floor conference room of the Alliance Administration Building, 504 E. Main St.