McLean County amends zoning code, again, for data centers
McLean County's Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously recommended amendments to the county's zoning ordinance for data centers, introducing 13 new requirements. This move follows resident concerns about infrastructure impact, particularly regarding water and electricity. The proposed changes will now go before the McLean County Board for a vote on June 11.
McLean County officials are moving to strengthen regulations on data centers in response to resident concerns about potential impacts on local communities and infrastructure. The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted to recommend amendments to the county’s zoning ordinance, which include 13 new requirements for future data center developments. This marks the third time the county has amended its zoning code regarding data centers, previously establishing them as a permitted special use and limiting them to M1 and M2 manufacturing districts to protect agricultural land.
Philip Dick, McLean County’s director of building and zoning, stated that the revisions address primary issues such as emergency services, water, electricity, and transportation. Lea Cline, chair of the Land Use and Transportation Committee, initiated the need for these revisions, emphasizing the complex challenges communities face nationally, including groundwater withdrawals, electrical infrastructure strain, wastewater generation, and backup power emissions.
Cline noted the county's authority is limited to land use regulation through zoning and permitting, as it cannot outright prohibit an otherwise legal land use. The proposed ordinance, which reflects increasing interest from large-scale data center developers, now awaits consideration by the McLean County Board on June 11. If approved, the amendments would take effect immediately.