Lincoln County Commissioners to Consider Data Center Zoning Change Monday
Lincoln County Commissioners are set to consider a zoning amendment that would require data center proposals to undergo a conditional use permit process, rather than being permitted by right. This follows their recent rejection of a data center moratorium, a decision that has sparked public concern and led to recall petitions against commissioners. Residents are worried about water consumption, electrical demand, and environmental impacts.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners in Nebraska is poised to consider a significant zoning amendment on Monday that would alter how future data center proposals are evaluated. The proposed change would reclassify data centers in Industrial (I-1) districts from a permitted use to a conditional use, necessitating review by the Planning Commission and approval by the County Board, along with public hearings for community input. This amendment, unanimously recommended by the Lincoln County Planning Commission, is described by planning officials as an additional safeguard while more comprehensive data center regulations are still under development.
This development occurs less than a week after the commissioners voted 3-2 to reject a six-month moratorium on data center development for a second time. Commissioners Joe Hewgley, Christopher Bruns, and Jerry Woodruff argued that existing zoning regulations provide sufficient authority to manage such projects. In contrast, Commissioners Micaela Wuehler and Kent Weems supported the moratorium, seeking more time to finalize detailed regulations concerning issues like water use, noise, setbacks, and emergency power generation.
The board's decision against the moratorium has ignited considerable public interest and opposition, with residents voicing concerns about potential water consumption, electrical demand, environmental impacts, and lack of transparency. Recall petitions have since been filed against the three commissioners who opposed the moratorium, signaling ongoing public dissatisfaction with the county's handling of data center development policies. The upcoming hearing focuses specifically on the land use matrix change, separate from the broader, still-developing regulations.