Lincoln County Commissioners Enact Stricter Data Center Zoning Regulations
Lincoln County, Nebraska commissioners unanimously voted to change data centers' zoning classification in industrial areas from "permitted" to "conditional," allowing the county to impose conditions on development regarding water, electricity, and noise. This decision follows public concern about data center growth, with discussions also touching on a potential moratorium.
The Lincoln County, Nebraska, Board of Commissioners unanimously voted 4-0 to reclassify data centers in industrial areas from "permitted" to "conditional" use. This change grants the county's zoning officials the authority to impose specific conditions on data center developments, including requirements related to water and electric consumption, noise levels, and property setbacks. Zoning Administrator Judy Clark confirmed this allows regulation across the entire county.
The decision comes after growing public discourse and inquiries from data center developers. Gary Person, President of the Chamber of DevCo, had previously cautioned the commissioners against implementing a moratorium on zoning applications, stating it could deter potential applicants. However, local agricultural realtor Duane McClain criticized the board for even considering a moratorium, arguing it has negatively impacted the county's business development prospects.
Conversely, resident Diane Huebner expressed concerns that data center development seemed to have "snuck up" on the public and felt the commissioners had "let us down" by not allowing more time for community input. She requested information on the positive aspects of data centers, to which Commissioners Hewgley and Jerry Woodruff offered to discuss outside the meeting. The commissioners clarified that no land purchases for data centers have been made public, and any permit application would initiate a public process with hearings.