Lake County considers tighter rules for data centers as residents call for ban
Lake County’s Planning and Zoning Board recommended an ordinance requiring proposed data centers to obtain conditional use permits and complete additional reviews, including water resource analysis. Residents and some county commissioners are calling for a total ban, while the proposal is scheduled to go before the County Commission on October 13.
The Lake County Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend an ordinance requiring data centers to secure conditional use permits before moving forward. The proposed rules would also require development plans, water resource analyses and other reviews, but county staff said they would not automatically approve new facilities.
Residents raised concerns about noise, water use and the strain data centers could place on the electrical grid. Cory Shaw argued that the county should prohibit data centers entirely, while the Lake 100 business group sent a letter supporting the conditional-use framework. County Commissioner Sean Parks said he listens to local small businesses, while Commissioner Anthony Sabatini publicly called for a total ban. The ordinance is expected to go before the Lake County Board of County Commissioners on October 13.