DATA CENTER: Q&A on Digital Infrastructure Overlay District
The City of Emporia, Kansas, is proposing a Digital Infrastructure Overlay District (DIO) to establish development standards and review criteria for large-scale digital infrastructure. The proposed regulations are scheduled for public presentation to the Planning Commission on June 23, 2026, and the City Commission on July 1, 2026.
The City of Emporia, Kansas, is moving forward with a proposed Digital Infrastructure Overlay District (DIO) to regulate large-scale digital infrastructure, including a project recently unveiled as the Flint Hills Digital Campus. Christine Torrens, the City Communications Manager, explained that the DIO aims to establish clear development standards and review criteria for such industrial uses in designated areas. It will guide placement and set expectations for utilities, infrastructure, and land use compatibility.
The DIO will not grant automatic approval for projects; all development proposals will still be subject to existing City regulations, permitting, site planning, and various local, state, and federal requirements. While the DIO streamlines the process for digital infrastructure, specific proposals may still necessitate additional approvals like conditional use permits.
The proposed DIO regulations are slated for initial presentation to the Planning Commission on June 23, 2026, followed by the City Commission on July 1, 2026. This public review process is distinct from other zoning reviews, like the recent medical zoning evaluation, as the DIO involves a specific, already drafted zoning text amendment. Further details are available on the emporiaks.gov/dio website.