Tazewell County committee recommends removing agricultural land from possible data center sites
A Tazewell County Board land use committee has recommended that proposed data center ordinances restrict data center development to industrial-zoned areas, removing agricultural land as an option. The ordinance, which aims to protect residents from potential negative impacts, is expected to have a final draft on the county board's Sept. 30 meeting agenda. Concerns from residents and committee members include water protection, power costs, and noise pollution.
The Tazewell County Board's land use committee has begun work on a proposed data center ordinance, recommending that any future data centers in the county's unincorporated areas be restricted to industrial-zoned land. Committee members, led by chair Russ Crawford, quickly agreed to remove agricultural areas from the initial draft of the ordinance, which was presented by Jackie Workman, the county's community development administrator. The proposed ordinance also mandates a special use approval from the full county board for any data center construction.
Residents' concerns, spurred by the sale of a former Caterpillar site near Delavan to Phoenix Investors, influenced the committee's discussions. While Delavan Mayor Adam White stated Phoenix Investors currently has no data center plans for the site, committee member Eugene Glueck presented recommendations focusing on water protection, advocating for data centers to use and return treated sewer water, and noise pollution, suggesting ambient noise levels should remain unchanged after construction. Another committee member, Eric Schmidgall, proposed a moratorium on data center applications, but county officials indicated it was unnecessary, as existing regulations already prevent applications until the ordinance is enacted.
The ordinance aims to establish comprehensive standards for data center location and installation, balancing public health and safety with development. The land use committee and the county's Zoning Board Appeals will continue to refine the ordinance, with a final draft anticipated for the county board's Sept. 30 meeting.