Lyon County working on data center ordinance
Lyon County, Nevada, is developing a new ordinance to regulate data centers, following a public workshop where concerns about resources, lighting, noise, and setbacks were raised. The county board voted to incorporate public feedback into the ordinance, while a specific project, the Monarch data center near Yerington, awaits a zoning vote.
Lyon County, Nevada, is in the process of drafting a new ordinance to regulate data center development within its jurisdiction. During a recent workshop, the county board unanimously directed staff to integrate public concerns into the proposed ordinance. This initiative comes as the Monarch data center project, located north of Yerington, is awaiting commission approval later this week.
The public workshop saw overwhelming opposition to data center development, with residents expressing concerns about resource consumption, light pollution, and noise levels. A major point of contention was the proposed 150-foot minimum setback from residential areas, which many residents and Commissioner Dave Hockaday argued was insufficient. Commissioners Hockaday and Tammy Hendrix suggested increasing the minimum setback, with Hockaday proposing 300 feet and Hendrix suggesting it be tied to building height.
Chair James Scott Keller acknowledged the importance of setbacks for future discussions. Commissioner Robert Jacobson's query revealed that the new ordinance would not apply to existing applications, leading to audible disappointment from the audience. Chair Keller emphasized the importance of community participation in the ordinance development. The Lyon County Commission is scheduled to vote on Thursday regarding a zoning change necessary for the Monarch data center project to proceed.