County Council approves building regs for data centers

The Jefferson County Council has approved new regulations for data center development, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for unincorporated areas of the county. The regulations, passed 5-2 on April 27 and added to the county's Unified Development Order, address key concerns including noise, water, and light pollution, building and design standards, setbacks, and zoning. The legislative process involved the Economic Development Objectives Committee (EDOC) and county staff, following an executive order issued by County Executive Dennis Gannon in December. Councilmen Tim Brown and Charles Groeteke voted against the bill, with Brown expressing concerns about potential legal risks associated with certain wording, particularly regarding community benefits agreements (CBAs). Brown proposed amendments that would have modified the CBA section, suggesting developers submit CBAs primarily when seeking tax abatements, and also sought to increase data center setbacks from residential properties to 1,000 feet, but both amendments failed. Despite the disagreements over specific clauses, Councilman Billy Crow praised the proactive approach, stating the county is "determining our own destiny" rather than reacting to data center developments like other municipalities.