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Resident urges clearer distinction for data‑center zoning in Land Use Ordinance review
Summary
During Citizens' Time, resident Andy Kegley urged the commission to remove data centers from commercial zoning and treat them differently in the county's Land Use Ordinance to avoid precedence issues and public exposure in commercial areas.
During Citizens' Time, Andy Kegley addressed the Planning Commission about the ongoing Land Use Ordinance review, urging commissioners to distinguish industrial from commercial use for data centers and related facilities.
Kegley said the draft places data centers as special‑use in industrial zones but asked that they be removed from commercial zones to reduce public exposure and potential opposition: "I would like to address the board about your work session on the Land Use Ordinance. I’m sorry I missed your last meeting; I appreciate the YouTube video and comments and thoughtful discussion. I got three dangling points," he said. He argued that allowing data centers by special use in both industrial and commercial districts could create precedent problems if a future board points to an existing facility when considering a new proposal in a different part of the county.
Kegley also raised a question about the Rogg property near the Grahams Forge/Topaz Drive exit, which is currently drafted as agricultural but has been proposed for a data center; he asked how the draft map would address such properties. Deputy County Administrator Matt Hankins responded that staff direction was to include the special use in both zones, and that staff would continue refining the map as directed.
The commission did not take action during Citizens' Time; the comment was taken for consideration as staff prepares revised maps and ordinance language ahead of the scheduled joint work session with the Board of Supervisors.
