Lebanon approves guidelines to limit data centers
The Lebanon City Council approved new zoning code amendments on September 1, establishing specific standards and conditions for future data center developments. These regulations, which include distance requirements, building limits, and noise thresholds, followed an earlier approval by the Lebanon Planning Commission. All applicants must now demonstrate compliance and provide utility approval letters.
On September 1, the Lebanon City Council officially approved significant changes to the city's zoning code, introducing a new set of standards and conditions specifically for data center developments. This decision builds upon earlier actions, including the council's redefinition of data centers last year and their restriction to conditional use in Light Industrial districts. The latest amendments received prior approval from the Lebanon Planning Commission in July.
According to Lebanon Senior Planner Josh Stahle, these updated regulations will provide concrete guidelines for any data center applications within the city. The new rules cover critical aspects such as minimum distance requirements from residential areas and other sensitive uses, varying based on the data center building's square footage. For instance, buildings under 20,000 square feet require a 100-foot buffer, while those over 99,000 square feet need 1,320 feet.
Further restrictions include a one-building-per-parcel limit, the requirement that all operations and equipment be fully enclosed within the building, and mandates for continuous landscape buffers with no light trespass. Noise thresholds are also outlined. Prospective data center developers will now be required to submit a comprehensive plan demonstrating adherence to all these new standards, along with approval letters from all water, sewer, and electrical service providers.