Data centers likely to be a bigger topic than expected at Lexington Planning Commission

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Planning Commission is expected to make data centers a primary topic at its June 11 meeting, despite it not being a major item on the initial agenda. The commission will hear from consultants working to modernize industrial zones and establish criteria for data center location, size, and approval processes, particularly within the Blue Sky Small Area Plan that proposes development on 300 acres near Athens Boonesboro Road and Interstate 75.

This heightened focus stems from DartPoints' recent purchase of an old Lexmark data center, which quickly spurred the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council to enact a moratorium on new data centers in Fayette County on June 9. Fifth District Council Member Liz Sheehan introduced the moratorium and a related zoning ordinance text amendment, which were passed without discussion, to provide clarity on development plan considerations and integrate this land use into the urban county's planning scheme.

Sheehan indicated that the council had been proactively working with planning staff for months to address data center development, despite the area not having the typical large water bodies or power plants associated with such facilities. The moratorium specifically halts the review and approval of data center plans, including zoning compliance permits, which DartPoints will need for its acquired property. The former Lexmark facility, which previously housed an IBM data center, has an existing capacity of 20-30 megawatts with potential expansion to 70 megawatts.