Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Committee set for open conversation on data center zoning
The Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Committee will hold a meeting to discuss how to regulate zoning for data centers. The discussion is a fact-finding mission to explore options, including potential moratoriums, following concerns raised by community members and experiences in neighboring counties like Dodge and Dane County.
The Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Committee is scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss potential zoning ordinances regarding data centers. County Administrator Michael Luckey clarified that the meeting is intended as an open conversation to gather guidance from the Committee on how to regulate data center zoning, addressing ambiguities where data centers are sometimes classified as warehouses.
Executive Committee members, including Chair James Braughler and County Board Chair Steve Nass, voiced concerns from residents and cited actions taken by other Wisconsin counties. Nass specifically referenced an 18-month moratorium enacted in Dane County and mentioned that the Wisconsin Counties Association is looking to share information statewide due to issues with developers allegedly misleading communities about project details. Key concerns include the substantial water and power usage of data centers.
While the meeting will present a range of options, it is a fact-finding discussion and will not specifically address a moratorium or lead to a particular outcome on June 29, but rather set the direction for future regulatory work.