Woodford County panel urges plan for data centers, weighs temporary moratorium

The Woodford County Conservation, Planning & Zoning Committee on June 8 discussed whether the county should adopt rules or a temporary moratorium for data center development.

“Vice Chairman Ferris expressed how important it is for the County to come up with a plan for Data Centers,” committee minutes state. Ferris noted the county has no current prohibition and that some other counties and municipalities have adopted data center ordinances. Committee members discussed options including drafting local standards or enacting a short-term moratorium while rules are developed.

Committee member Tim Wilcoxen asked whether state legislation is impending and raised resource concerns, specifically citing electrical and water consumption as potential issues. Blake Parsons said the county’s Long Range Plan would be considered when evaluating any local approach and noted that, for now, state guidance allows counties to outline their own approach.

The committee did not adopt any ordinance or formal restriction at the meeting; members discussed monitoring other jurisdictions and the possibility of drafting a moratorium or ordinance for future consideration.