Committee asks staff to draft small-scale data-center ordinance and moratorium template for larger facilities

The Land & Water Resources Committee instructed staff to draft two policy options to address data center development: ordinance language for small-scale data centers and a potential moratorium for medium-to-large facilities. Planning, Zoning and Solid Waste Administrator Patrick Virtues presented information from Waushara County’s ordinance language and noted St. Croix County had adopted a moratorium on medium-to-large data centers.

Corporation Counsel Beth Ellingson said the Wisconsin Counties Association would not supply a template ordinance because counties vary widely in their circumstances. The committee concluded it would be prudent to draft targeted ordinance language for smaller facilities and work on a moratorium document for larger installations so the county would have text ready if needed.