Zoning policy changes draw crowd of data center opponents in Shawnee Co.
The Shawnee County Commissioners approved changes to zoning rules to gain more control over future data center projects. The decision was met with a large crowd of residents expressing strong opposition to data center developments in the county. Commissioners clarified that the vote was on regulations, not specific project approvals.
The Shawnee County Commissioners approved changes to zoning regulations today, a move they state will provide them with more control over how land is used when data center applications are submitted. The commissioners indicated the new rules would allow them to set conditions for, or even deny, data center projects that previously faced fewer hurdles.
The meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd of residents from across Shawnee County who largely opposed the changes, fearing they would pave the way for data center developments. Despite public outcry, Commissioners Aaron Mays and Bill Riphahn clarified that their vote only addressed zoning regulations and was not an approval or denial of any specific data center project, dispelling what they called "misinformation" circulating on social media. Opponents, like Darcy Lewinsky-Snyder, expressed frustration, feeling that the commissioners' minds were already made up in favor of data centers.