Planning commission forwards one‑year moratorium on data‑center permits to county commissioners

The Whitley County Planning Commission voted Aug. 19 to forward a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners for a one‑year moratorium on permitting of data centers, or until the county adopts standards that would regulate them.

Staff described the moratorium as limited to the issuance of permits for data centers; petitions or filings could still be submitted but no permits would be issued during the moratorium. Draft language includes two narrow exceptions: a data facility accessory and incidental to a primary use on the same property (for example, a server room for a business) and data centers that exclusively serve a telecommunications facility or public utility. Staff said public utilities are technically exempt under state law but the exception is included for clarity.

Public comment was extensive and largely supportive of the pause. Speakers urged the county to adopt clear, measurable protections for water use, noise, generator fuel storage, road impacts, decommissioning bonds, and transparency (opposition to NDAs and tax incentives was repeated). Paul Olrich told the commission he wanted the community protected "from things like this," and other speakers urged enforceable standards on groundwater withdrawal, noise limits and independent review of applications. After discussion, the commission made a favorable recommendation; the moratorium language and recommendation will be considered by the county commissioners at their next meeting.