Bartholomew to explore changes, limits on data center approvals
Bartholomew County Commissioners are supporting changes to how the county approves data centers, including a potential shift in zoning ordinances from permitted to conditional use. The Bartholomew County Plan Commission will consider these changes at its September meeting. Commissioners are also exploring broader actions such as moratoriums or a total ban on data centers.
Bartholomew County Commissioners have voiced their support for revising the county's approval process for data centers. In a letter issued this week, the commissioners announced that the Bartholomew County Plan Commission is slated to deliberate on a potential alteration to county zoning ordinances concerning data centers during its upcoming September meeting.
This proposed change could reclassify data centers from a permitted use within industrial zones to a conditional use, thereby enabling more rigorous oversight. While advocating for zoning adjustments as a preliminary measure, the commissioners are also considering more significant actions, which include imposing moratoriums, enacting more stringent ordinances, or even implementing a comprehensive ban on data center development.
The commissioners have tasked the county attorney and the City-County Planning Department with reviewing these potential steps and providing a report for their further consideration. They underscored the necessity of basing all decisions on accurate and verified information.
Finally, the commissioners highlighted that only a limited number of rural locations in Bartholomew County are suitable for large data centers, primarily in the northwestern corner, due to factors such as existing zoning, land use, property size, and utility access.