LaPorte County Plan Commission to hold hearing on data center ordinance

The LaPorte County Plan Commission has taken a significant step towards regulating data center development within the county's unincorporated areas. After an 8-1 vote recommending approval, the commission forwarded a proposed ordinance to the county commissioners for their review. This ordinance, which has been in development since October, is designed to implement clear restrictions and "guardrails" on how and where data centers can operate, ensuring compatibility with existing land use and protecting natural resources. While the goal is not to block data centers, but to regulate them properly, residents expressed concerns during the public input session, seeking clarification on the language and potential long-term effects of data centers. County Building Commissioner Michael Polan noted that the draft has been amended multiple times and is considered strong enough to move forward. LaPorte County Commissioner Joe Haney emphasized the need to establish this regulatory structure, adding that the county commissioners can still make further edits before their scheduled consideration on May 6th, despite some resident frustration over the current draft.