Marion County Commission Updates Land-Use Rules, Forms Data Center Task Force
The Marion County Commission approved revisions to its land-use regulations, which now include specific zoning for large energy projects and an environmental agreement. The commission also formed a task force to research regulations for data centers and voted to lift an existing moratorium. These actions are aimed at managing future development and protecting county resources.
The Marion County Commission recently enacted significant changes to its land-use regulations, established a dedicated task force to address data center development, and lifted a previously imposed moratorium. During a July 27 meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board, commissioners approved revisions to the Marion County Land Use Order, which applies to unincorporated areas. Western District Commissioner Lacey Miller successfully introduced an amendment requiring energy projects of 5 megawatts or more to be zoned M-1 industrial, unless serving an individual home, business, or farmstead, to ensure consistent standards and mitigate potential challenges. An environmental agreement was also added, mandating the management, minimization, monitoring, and mitigation of environmental impacts to protect the county's natural resources, water, and air quality.
The decision to form a data center task force stemmed from a July 13 request by Susan Gard, who urged the commission to research regulations and guidelines for data centers. Gard emphasized the need to gather comprehensive information on water, energy, power, acreage, and facility size requirements before establishing new rules. Commissioners unanimously approved the task force's formation, which will comprise volunteers dedicated to this research, rather than expanding the existing Planning and Zoning Board. The application process for task force members was postponed until August 10 to ensure all three commissioners could be present for the discussion.
In other county business during July, the commission addressed various infrastructure and funding matters. Transportation planner Anna Hudson of the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments and MoDOT Area Engineer Emily Edgar met with commissioners to update Marion County's transportation needs list, discussing projects like the Hannibal Expressway and U.S. 61/U.S. 24 south split. Northeast Power representatives provided an update on a 161-kilovolt and 69-kilovolt transmission line reconstruction project in the Mark Bottoms area, reporting it remains on schedule despite minor delays. Additionally, the commission reviewed a significant funding shortfall for renovations to a new Avenues of Hannibal facility, with construction bids substantially exceeding available grant funding, prompting a request for legal opinion from Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Luke Bryant.