Shawano County Clarifies Data Center Moratorium Following Board Approval
Shawano County, Wisconsin, has enacted a 12-month moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated areas. Officials clarified that the proactive measure is for planning purposes, allowing the county to study potential impacts and develop appropriate zoning regulations, rather than a response to any specific data center proposal.
Shawano County, Wisconsin, has implemented a one-year moratorium on new data center development across its unincorporated towns, following a unanimous vote by the Shawano County Board. County officials emphasized that this temporary halt is a proactive measure for future planning, not a reaction to any specific data center project or inquiry.
According to Kyle Waelchli, the county's Zoning Administrator, the Planning and Development Department has not received any applications or calls regarding data center permitting. The moratorium specifically targets areas under Shawano County's zoning authority, excluding towns like Almon, Bartelme, and Belle Plaine, which manage their own zoning ordinances.
The primary goal of the 12-month pause is to provide county leaders and staff with adequate time to research the potential effects of large-scale data centers. This period will allow them to formulate and implement suitable zoning regulations before any future development proposals are considered, ensuring the county is prepared should interest in data center construction emerge.