Board adopts zoning amendments and 12-month moratorium on medium and large data centers

The St. Croix County Board on a unanimous 18–0 vote amended Chapter 15 of the county zoning ordinance to add definitions, clarify conditional-use review, and adopt a 12-month moratorium on medium and large-scale data centers while staff and committees study appropriate regulatory language.

Supervisor Scott Counter, who brought the ordinance from the Community Development Committee, said the moratorium and the definitions are intended to give the county time to review model ordinances and technical guidance. Jason Chivas, community development staff, told the board the moratorium is grounded in Wis. Stat. ch. 59 and cross-references sec. 66.1002, which authorizes a one-year moratorium. "This ordinance...has a 12 month moratorium on medium and large scale data centers," he said, summarizing the statute-based timeline and the committee's approach to sizing and follow-up work.

The board adopted several amendments before the final vote. Supervisor Van Summerin moved — and the board adopted — an amendment replacing the phrase "consumes less than 500 kW" with an accuracy-focused standard: "the data center power demand shall be less than 500 kW." The amendment passed by roll call (recorded 18–0). Van Summerin also secured an amendment to add "no human habitation in self storage facilities" to the permitted/limited uses for new mini-storage facilities; corporate counsel clarified that preexisting storage with on-site caretakers would remain a legal nonconforming use.

Public comment before the vote focused on potential environmental and property impacts of data centers and called for additional study. Sue Curtis, representing Saint Croix Cures, urged the board to "support the 12 month moratorium" and consider an additional six months to study impacts. The board accepted the ordinance as amended and recorded the motion as adopted 18–0.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 1024; topfinish SEG 1499.