Dickinson County Planning, Zoning Commission Recommends Three-Year Data Center Moratorium

The Dickinson County Planning and Zoning Commission recently voted to recommend that the County Commission implement a three-year moratorium on new data centers, alternative renewable energy projects, and battery energy storage systems. The primary goal of this moratorium is to allow the Planning and Zoning Commission sufficient time to thoroughly examine and develop new regulations for these types of developments, with a particular focus placed on data centers.

During a public comment session held on July 16, residents expressed varied opinions. While some residents voiced strong support for a complete ban on data centers within the county, others advocated for a more measured approach, suggesting comprehensive research and the creation of detailed regulations. Commissioners, including Barb Barrett and Planning and Zoning Director Tim Hamilton, highlighted the necessity of clearly defining what constitutes a "data center" to ensure that any future regulations are appropriate for different sizes, scales, and intensities of these facilities. They also emphasized the importance of considering future technological advancements, such as more efficient Nvidia chips that might lead to smaller data center footprints, and ensuring compatible land use.

The commission ultimately concluded that more time and research are essential to address the numerous questions surrounding data center development. This recommendation for a moratorium signals an intent to pause new approvals while the county works to establish a clearer framework for these significant infrastructure projects. The article also briefly mentioned the approval of a bed and breakfast request by Sunflower Property Rentals, LLC, indicating other agenda items at the meeting.