Board removes zoning language from data center proposal
The Jackson County Board voted to initiate a legal review and consider future regulations for data centers. They approved a resolution to engage Heyl Royster for assistance in examining potential regulations. Language related to countywide zoning was removed from the proposal following a debate.
The Jackson County Board held a meeting in Murphysboro where members voted to proceed with a legal review and explore potential regulations for future data centers within the county. The decision followed a lengthy debate concerning countywide zoning and potential government overreach, according to board members Daniel Presley and Dan Bost.
Jackson County State’s Attorney Marsha Cascio-Hale was also present for discussions. The board ultimately approved a modified resolution to engage the firm Heyl Royster to assist the county in examining possible data center regulations. Notably, earlier drafts of the proposal had included explicit references to zoning, but board members opted to remove this language before granting final approval.