Lake County commissioners urge municipalities to consider moratoriums on data centers, stress local control

Commissioners at a Lake County Board of Commissioners meeting discussed data center development in Perry Village and elsewhere and urged local municipalities to consider moratoriums while impacts are studied.

One commissioner suggested the board consider a resolution encouraging municipalities to exercise their home-rule zoning authority to adopt moratoriums as the county continues to study data-center impacts. The commissioner praised Payneesville Township and East Lake for already passing moratoriums and said the county does not have zoning authority but can use its "bully pulpit" to support local decisions.

Another commissioner said the conversation should include community benefit agreements so that if a data center is built, "here are the things that we would like to see" in return for hosting the project. He added that such conversations should be cooperative and not "done in haste."

A third commissioner urged municipal leaders to reach out to the commissioners’ office for assistance, calling data centers "complicated projects" that require time and diligence. The board also emphasized engaging state representatives and senators to make local concerns known to Columbus.

Commissioners highlighted the Lake Development Authority (formerly the Port Authority) and its director, Patrick Mahorick, as a county resource to assist municipalities that lack in-house economic development staff. One commissioner warned of "rumors" from Columbus about possible moves to limit local zoning authority for data centers and said removing local control would be harmful, adding, "Ultimately, every community should get to self-determine."

The discussion concluded with commissioners reiterating support for preserving home rule and offering county resources to help municipalities negotiate or review prospective agreements if data centers propose to locate in their jurisdictions.