Ascension Parish Zoning Commission recommends first data center regulations
The Ascension Parish Zoning Commission has recommended new regulations for high-impact development facilities, including data centers, which will now move to the Parish Council for a final vote on September 17. The proposed ordinance would permit these facilities in heavy industrial zones by right and in medium and light industrial zones with conditional use approval. New facilities would also be responsible for 100% of power infrastructure upgrade costs and be required to hold community meetings prior to application submission.
The Ascension Parish Zoning Commission recently advanced a proposed ordinance establishing new regulations for high-impact development facilities, including data centers, after over an hour of discussion and amendments. The recommended regulations are now slated for a final vote by the Parish Council at its next meeting on September 17.
The draft ordinance defines high-impact facilities to include data centers, cloud computing facilities, AI computing facilities, cryptocurrency and blockchain facilities, and server farms. Under the new rules, these developments would be permitted as a "use by right" in heavy industrial zones. In medium and light industrial zones, they would require conditional use approval, necessitating an application review by the Zoning Commission and a final decision from the Parish Council following a public hearing.
Key provisions of the proposed ordinance include a mandate for facilities to cover 100% of any required power generation, substation, or transmission line upgrades, without relying on existing electrical infrastructure. Additionally, applicants would be required to conduct two community meetings to discuss their projects with the public and submit minutes and audio recordings of these meetings to the commission prior to submitting their application.