Lake County ZBA recommends data center moratorium in unanimous vote
The Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously recommended an eight-month temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated county areas, driven by significant public opposition and a filed lawsuit against the Grayslake T5 Data Center project. The recommendation now moves to other county bodies for further consideration and a final vote. Concerns raised include electricity and water consumption, environmental impact, and noise.
The Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) unanimously approved a recommendation for an eight-month temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated areas of Lake County, Illinois, during an August 18 hearing. This measure, which seeks to halt data center construction while assessing viability, now advances to Lake County's Zoning, Building, and Development for a September 2 hearing, followed by a full County Board vote on September 8.
Over 200 residents attended the ZBA meeting, expressing strong opposition to data centers. The public input was a direct response to the Grayslake T5 Data Center project, a proposed 20-building facility on 420 acres near Grayslake. Concerns center on transparency, electricity and water consumption, air pollution, lithium-ion battery fire hazards, aquifer contamination, light pollution, noise, and overall environmental impact. An administrative hold on data center construction in unincorporated Lake County was placed on June 9, pending a County Board decision.
The village of Grayslake had to postpone an extended public comment session on the data center due to safety concerns raised by social media posts and law enforcement. Village administrator Chase Muscato confirmed that a building foundation and site development permit has been issued for the first building of the Grayslake project. Meanwhile, a civil lawsuit was filed on July 31 in Lake County, seeking an injunction against the project and citing violations like improper discussions and private emails, though the village had not yet been served as of the ZBA hearing.