Wheeling Leaders Review Proposed Data Center Zoning Regulations
Wheeling city leaders reviewed a working draft of zoning amendments that would establish special permitting requirements for data centers. The proposed rules are being developed in response to Silicon Foundation’s plans for a data center and energy technology campus in the Warwood neighborhood and will be released for public input before further revisions and approval.
Wheeling City Council’s Rules Committee reviewed a preliminary 15-page draft of zoning amendments designed to regulate data centers. The proposal would require a special use permit and detailed reviews of electrical demand, utility impacts, water consumption, wastewater, cooling and conservation measures, emissions, noise, generators and stormwater management. Applicants would also pay a fee, provide a surety bond and cover the cost of outside experts hired by the city.
The draft follows public and official concerns about Silicon Foundation’s planned data center and energy technology campus at the former Centre Foundry & Machine Company property in Warwood. The city has a memorandum of understanding with the company under which it agrees not to seek state approval to expand into a high-impact data center. Officials plan to post the working draft for public comment, revise it in the coming weeks and eventually send special-use applications to the Wheeling Planning Commission, with final approval expected to go through City Council.