Sangamon County wrestles with land use issues
A proposal to amend Sangamon County's data center ordinance remains tabled following a Zoning and Land Use Committee meeting, leaving the CyrusOne data center project's status tied to the existing July 2025 ordinance. Concurrently, a proposal by board member Craig Hall to rezone land to allow stricter local zoning for renewable energy projects faces legal uncertainty. The County continues to grapple with land use issues and local control.
A proposal to amend Sangamon County's data center ordinance, Chapter 17.39 of Sangamon County Code, remains tabled after the county's May 21 Zoning and Land Use Committee meeting. This ordinance was initially passed in July to formally permit data centers in Sangamon County, and proponents argue that CyrusOne's project, introduced in November, aligns with this existing ordinance. The committee also did not act on a separate proposal by District 7 board member Craig Hall.
Hall's proposal seeks to circumvent state laws that prevent local governments from imposing stricter zoning requirements on renewable energy projects, particularly for commercial solar and wind farms. This move would involve rezoning specific areas to residential use, thereby allowing local control over land use for growth. However, the board's legal adviser, assistant state's attorney Joel Benoit, expressed uncertainty about the proposal's legality and is seeking outside counsel. Simultaneously, the Sangamon County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a 20-acre solar farm on Lenhart Road, despite residents' concerns about construction, traffic, vandalism, and property values. Developer Summit Ridge Energy emphasized the commonality of mixed-use zoning, while public commentators highlighted the much larger Double Black Diamond Solar Farm, which opened last year. Local municipalities are seeking assurances for managing their limited real estate, especially in light of the state's BUILD plan.