Planning commission recommends prohibiting data centers in county zoning

The Marshall County Planning Commission voted March 26 to recommend that county commissioners amend the zoning ordinance to prohibit data centers across zoning districts. Staff presented a certified proposal noting public concern over data center development, and recommended standards and safeguards if those uses were ever to be reconsidered.

Staff told the commission that the comprehensive plan previously allowed limited data center use but that recent larger-scale data center projects exposed gaps in standards for infrastructure, water and decommissioning bonds. Commissioners and members discussed examples from other counties where decommissioning funding proved inadequate. One commissioner described data centers as "humongous" energy consumers and raised questions about long-term county liabilities.

The commission opened a public hearing and received comments on resource impacts. After discussion, commissioners moved to forward a recommendation to the county commissioners that data centers be made not permitted in any zoning district; the motion passed. The recommendation is advisory; county commissioners will consider the ordinance language and any required technical standards before final action.