Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning committee recommends new rules, public meeting and June 25 hearing for data centers
Summary
A Joint Ordinance Committee recommended zoning changes to regulate data centers — distinguishing small and large facilities by 40,000 sq ft / 10 MW thresholds, setting a 55 dB noise cap, decommissioning and bond requirements, and requiring a community meeting; the board set a public hearing for June 25.
The Joint Ordinance Committee reported a package of proposed zoning regulations for data centers and asked the board to advertise a public hearing for June 25. Committee members said current zoning does not explicitly address data centers and proposed drawing a line between "small‑scale" and "large‑scale" sites using size and power: 40,000 square feet and 10 megawatts were proposed thresholds.
"Effectively they want they want to draw a line in the sand and distinguish them between small scale and large scale data centers... 40,000 square feet, and a 10 megawatt usage is where they they landed," the committee summary said. The package would allow small‑scale facilities by right in the industrial district, but require special‑use permits in other districts; large facilities would require special‑use review in all non‑industrial districts.
The committee also recommended a required decommissioning plan (removal within 365 days), a county bond to guarantee decommissioning, a noise limit not to exceed 55 decibels (A‑weighted), setback and vegetative buffer requirements, and stronger public notification steps including on‑site signage and a pre‑application community meeting hosted by the project proponent. Committee members said the recommendations mirror similar requirements the county adopted for battery and solar projects.
The board voted to advertise a public hearing on the ordinance changes for June 25; no final zoning action was taken at the meeting.
