Commissioners begin UDO review for data centers and battery storage systems

A commissioner opened an extended discussion about emerging land uses and asked staff and planning to explore UDO changes to protect residents and infrastructure. The speaker noted the county currently lacks specific UDO provisions for data centers and battery energy storage systems and suggested potential approaches: making data centers conditional or special-exception uses, expanding setbacks from protected districts (residential, schools, parks, historic areas), lowering noise thresholds (from ~60–65 dB down to 50–55 dB), measuring low-frequency noise pre/post-construction, restricting generator test schedules, requiring mandatory utility will-serve verification, and prohibiting once-through cooling systems.

Commissioners and staff agreed to have planning staff (Laura Parker and others) evaluate options and return with draft language or a recommended resolution in the coming weeks. The board did not vote on ordinance language at this meeting; members instead directed staff to prepare a report and draft for future consideration.