Barren zoning law begins to take shape
Barren County, Kentucky, has released the first draft of its proposed zoning ordinance, which includes specific regulations for "high-intensity technology infrastructure" such as data centers. The Barren County Land Use Committee is currently reviewing the 102-page document, which defines data centers as conditional uses subject to special approval due to their high resource consumption. The ordinance is designed to manage growth while protecting the county's agricultural heritage and promoting economic development.
Barren County, Kentucky, has released the initial draft of its proposed zoning ordinance, setting the stage for discussions by the newly formed Barren County Land Use Committee. The 102-page document aims to regulate land use in the county's unincorporated areas, with a focus on balancing agricultural preservation with economic growth.
The 10-member advisory committee, composed of representatives from the Joint City-County Planning Commission, Barren County Fiscal Court, and citizen members appointed by Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd, convened its first meeting. Their mandate is to refine the ordinance's language before it is presented to the planning commission for a potential vote on September 21, followed by consideration by the fiscal court for adoption.
A key aspect of the proposed ordinance is its definition and regulation of "high-intensity technology infrastructure," which explicitly includes data centers and solar farms. These facilities are designated for the Heavy Industrial District and are classified as conditional uses, requiring approval by a yet-to-be-created board of adjustment. The ordinance specifies that such infrastructure, characterized by "extraordinary consumption of electrical power, water, telecommunications capacity, cooling resources, computing resources, utility infrastructure or public infrastructure," necessitates enhanced review due to its scale and community impacts.
Joint City-County Planning Commission director Kevin Myatt highlighted that the next committee meeting on September 3 will specifically address the regulations for high-intensity technological infrastructure, promising "strict requirements." The public has been invited to review the document and submit questions via email or written correspondence.