Proposal would prohibit large data centers in Milwaukee, regulate small data centers

A new zoning proposal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, aims to effectively ban large data centers exceeding 60,000 square feet and establish a tiered regulatory system for smaller facilities. Sponsored by Alders Marina Dimitrijevic and Alex Brower, the ordinance would create a specific "data center" land use type, permitting facilities under 20,000 square feet as "limited use" and those between 20,000 and 60,000 square feet as "special use" requiring public input and city approvals. The initiative comes amidst increasing regional data center development and follows moratoriums enacted in other Wisconsin communities like Madison and Manitowoc County.

The proposal seeks to introduce greater scrutiny and transparency, ensuring data centers are limited to light and heavy industrial zones and are not built in residential areas, according to Alder Brower. Dimitrijevic indicated she began working on the plan last year due to the lack of existing regulations for data centers in the city.

Separately, a proposed mixed-use development by AFS Milwaukee at a former Walmart site, which includes a 19,000-square-foot data processing facility, has faced community opposition. Alder Mark Chambers, whose district includes the site, stated that discussions for the Midtown Center project were pulled from a May 18 Plan Commission meeting because residents had not received sufficient information. He assured that the "high technology use" site would have minimal impact on local water supply and limited power needs, pledging to ensure parameters are in place to prevent noise and air quality impacts. However, Alder Dimitrijevic confirmed that the new zoning proposal would not affect this specific project as its development plan was submitted under existing rules.