Council reviews draft industrial special‑use district to require council review of data centers and battery storage

Town planning staff proposed creating an "industrial special use" (ISU) zoning district to ensure the town council — not administrative boards — makes rezoning decisions for high‑impact, emerging uses.

"The big one that's getting all kinds of attention literally everywhere, of course, is data centers," Paul Amby, senior planner, said. He said the draft would also list battery and energy storage systems and possible future carbon containment uses and require applicants to submit additional information at rezoning, including projected electricity and water use and decommissioning plans. Amby said the ISU district would be the only district permitting those uses, meaning applicants would need to rezone into ISU and come before the council for review.

Staff emphasized the proposal is a draft intended to give the council more discretion over where and when those uses locate. Ryan noted the town does not currently have specific zoning categories for many emerging technologies and that requiring rezoning would prevent by‑right placement in existing industrial zones. Council members asked about timing and map changes; Amby said staff aims to include the ISU language in the UDO revisions and bring a draft to the plan commission in October.

The recommendation does not yet designate specific parcels for ISU; staff said rezonings would still require review of the comp plan, development materials and legal vesting considerations.