Normal plans to partner with Bloomington on data center forum
Normal and Bloomington, Illinois, are collaborating on a public forum regarding data center development, scheduled for August 26. Normal City staff previously visited a CyrusOne data center in Aurora, Illinois, to study its robust zoning ordinance as a potential model. The forum aims to inform the community and guide future data center planning for both towns.
Normal, Illinois, City Manager Pam Reece announced the town's collaboration with Bloomington for a public forum on data center development, scheduled for August 26. This joint effort follows Normal's ongoing review of potential data center sites.
A fact-finding mission on July 2 saw Normal's Director of Planning and Zoning Mercy Davison and staff visit a CyrusOne data center in Aurora, Illinois. The Aurora visit was aimed at studying its comprehensive data center zoning ordinance, which includes provisions for land use, decommissioning, and noise, and is being considered as a potential starting point for Normal's own regulations.
The collaboration with Bloomington on a single community forum is preferred by Normal, rather than holding separate events, to leverage shared community interests on the topic. Panel participants for the forum have not yet been announced. The article also briefly touches on internal Town of Normal council ethics issues unrelated to data centers.