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Sawyer County adopts 18-month moratorium on large data centers
Summary
The board approved an 18-month temporary moratorium on data centers and associated infrastructure to allow staff and supervisors time to review zoning rules and potential performance, setback, and permitting standards.
The Sawyer County Board voted to adopt an 18-month temporary moratorium on the development of large data centers and associated infrastructure, giving staff time to review zoning and land-use regulations and propose standards for setbacks, permitting and performance.
Zoning staff explained that the moratorium is intended to target larger-scale data-center projects that can include large buildings, cooling systems, backup generators, access roads and utility upgrades. The temporary pause will allow the county to compare approaches used by other Wisconsin counties and decide whether additional zoning standards, size limits or conditional-use requirements are appropriate.
Supervisor Kozlowski (zoning staff) told the board the moratorium was recommended 5–0 by the zoning committee after a public hearing. The board moved and seconded the ordinance and approved it. Supporters said the measure is not intended to ban smaller communications "head end" facilities used for fiber or networking; such facilities would remain allowable and reviewed under existing conditional-use requirements.
The county now has up to 18 months to draft any proposed ordinance language and return regulations for public consideration and potential adoption.
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