Hutchinson Planning Commission to consider permanent data center regulations Tuesday
The Hutchinson Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed permanent regulations for data centers, including limits on locations, water use, noise and electrical demand. The rules would restrict large facilities to two industrial parks and, if approved by the commission, advance to the Hutchinson City Council.
Hutchinson planning officials are preparing permanent regulations for potential data center development amid concerns about impacts on the city's water supply, electrical infrastructure and nearby neighborhoods. The proposed rules would allow large facilities only in the Kansas Enterprise Industrial Park and Kimbell Industrial Park, while smaller facilities could be permitted in certain industrial zones, sometimes with conditional-use approval.
The regulations would require efficient cooling systems, cap water consumption for standalone facilities, impose noise limits and require provisions for emergency response, landscaping, screening and decommissioning. No data center applications or permits have been submitted in Hutchinson. The Planning Commission's recommendation is expected to go to the Hutchinson City Council for possible consideration in December.