Lexington considers new rules for future data centers

Lexington, Kentucky, is beginning to outline new rules and standards for potential future data center developments amidst ongoing debates across central Kentucky concerning such proposals. City planners are laying the groundwork for guidelines ahead of a public hearing scheduled for July 30th.

The proposed regulations stipulate that data centers under 50,000 square feet would require conditional use approval and could only be built in specific B-1 and I-1 zoning districts. Developers would be mandated to provide detailed plans outlining energy use, water consumption, and noise levels. A commission member also proposed a restriction requiring facilities to be built at least 1,000 feet away from neighborhoods, schools, and daycares to address significant resident concerns about noise. The draft further suggests server rooms should be proportional to the overall building size.

While some see these facilities as a source of economic growth without straining local taxpayers, especially if they can generate their own power, others express concerns about the limits. The public hearing on July 30th will allow residents to weigh in on these proposed guidelines before they are finalized.