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Planning commission forwards data‑center recommendations to county commissioners, urges stricter setbacks, noise limits and grandfathering language
Summary
After extensive discussion, the commission recommended the Board of County Commissioners consider a 1,200‑foot residential setback, stricter low‑frequency noise limits and that grandfathering occur only when construction begins; it also asked staff to draft language on generator testing hours, construction traffic plans and decommissioning bonds and to pursue independent sound testing.
Rachel O'Shea, Deputy Director of Zoning, summarized the background and the Board of County Commissioners' direction asking staff to draft additional conditions for data centers (text amendment 26‑23). "The BOCC has requested feedback from the planning commission regarding the proposed data center conditions," O'Shea said, noting staff compiled submitted comments and that the commission’s recommendations will be presented to the BOCC in a future work session.
Commissioners offered multiple specific recommendations. One commissioner proposed a minimum 1,200‑foot setback from residential property and a 400‑foot vegetative buffer; another proposed limiting property‑line noise to 45 dBA and lower limits for low‑frequency emissions (measured in dBC or via narrow‑band analysis). Commissioners also proposed requiring earthen berms in some locations, independent pre‑ and post‑construction sound testing, a construction traffic management plan, and a site decommissioning plan secured by a bond or escrow that would be re‑evaluated every five years for inflation.
The commission voted to forward a package of comments to the BOCC that (a) recommends grandfathering only at the time construction begins, (b) asks staff to prepare draft text‑amendment language restricting generator testing to weekdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m., requiring construction traffic management plans and requiring decommissioning plans/bonds, and (c) requests independent sound testing protocols be established. Commissioners emphasized the recommendations are advisory to the Board of County Commissioners and not legally binding.
