Woodbury County Zoning Commission hears from residents during first data center town hall
The Woodbury County Zoning Commission held a town hall to gather public input for a new ordinance regulating data center projects in unincorporated areas, following a 12-month moratorium. Residents expressed concerns about potential negative impacts such as water quality, noise, and power usage, while others highlighted economic benefits and landowner rights. The commission will use this input to draft the data center ordinance.
The Woodbury County Zoning Commission hosted the first of three town halls in Sloan, Iowa, to solicit public feedback on a proposed ordinance for regulating data center developments in unincorporated county areas. This initiative follows a 12-month moratorium on data center projects, which the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors enacted in June.
Residents at the meeting voiced diverse opinions, with some advocating for landowner rights and economic opportunities from data centers, including farming and renewable energy. Conversely, many others raised significant concerns regarding potential negative impacts such as water quality degradation, noise pollution, light issues, health concerns, property value depreciation, and strain on the power grid. Board of Supervisors member Dan Bittinger, present at the meeting, emphasized the board's responsibility to balance individual property rights with community welfare.
The commission plans to incorporate the collected public input into the drafting of the new data center ordinance. Residents who could not attend can submit written comments or contact Planning and Zoning Coordinator Dan Priestley directly.