Logansport council tightens review of pipelines, data centers and electric generation; data‑center rules pass amid resident concerns

The Logansport Common Council voted on July 6 to advance zoning changes that will require projects such as pipeline pumping stations, certain electric generation facilities and data‑processing centers to undergo special‑exception review rather than be automatically permitted in some districts.

Aaron, a staff presenter, told the council the amendments respond to new industry activity and are intended to route larger or novel facilities through the Board of Zoning Appeals so the community has a public hearing and stricter review. “We had a plan commission committee get together and look at these … putting more restrictions so that they actually have to go to the board of zoning appeals instead of just being allowed in a district without any review or public hearing,” Aaron said.

Data‑center debate and public comment: Councilwoman Haley Zinsmaster introduced Ordinance 2026‑9 amending Table A for data‑processing standards. Some council members urged making data centers fully not‑permitted (marked X) in more districts while supporters said the draft gives the city time to set clearer standards. Mercedes Brew, a member of the public, told the council she supported the proactive review and urged careful community debate; she warned that artificial‑intelligence applications are not infallible and said, “You still have to check all the work that comes out of AI.”

Resident Laura Redwick asked for clarity on which zoning districts would be affected and whether any developers had approached the city; staff and utilities representatives said no offers or firm interest had been received to date. Redwick also raised concerns about noise from crypto‑mining operations in a residential area she cited.

Votes and next steps: Ordinance 2026‑18 (pipeline/pumping station and related standards) passed its first reading 6–1. Ordinance 2026‑9 (data processing standards) passed its first reading 4–3 after public comment and discussion. Ordinance 2026‑20 (electrical generation standards) passed its first reading 5–2. Several council members said the plan commission will continue to refine standards and that making broad prohibitions would require additional review and a return to plan commission.

What this means: The ordinances do not immediately ban specific uses but change the procedural path — in many cases requiring special‑exception review and public hearings before operators can locate facilities in sensitive districts. City officials said the changes are intended to allow community input and more protective site‑specific conditions before construction.