Minot Planning Commission creating rules for potential data centers
The Minot Planning Commission is developing new rules for potential data center developments, including defining data centers in city code and limiting their location to an I-2 industrial park. The proposed regulations would require a conditional use permit, ensuring public hearings and allowing conditions related to water, electricity, and noise issues.
The Minot Planning Commission in North Dakota is in the process of establishing new regulations for potential data center developments within the city. Although city staff confirms no specific data center project has been proposed for Minot, the commission is proactively addressing the issue to avoid complications experienced by other communities across the state and country.
The proposed changes aim to introduce a clear definition for data centers within the city's code. This would prevent companies from applying as generic warehouses in various industrial zones, thereby bypassing public review. The revised proposal would restrict data centers to the city's "I-2 industrial park" area, located east of the airport.
Under the new regulations, any future data center project would necessitate a conditional use permit. This process would require a public hearing before the Planning Commission, allowing for conditions to be attached to permits concerning potential impacts such as water usage, electrical demands, and noise levels.
City staff emphasized the urgency of having these rules in place to ensure residents have a voice before any data center construction begins. The Planning Commission unanimously voted to advance the revised recommendations, which will now proceed to the Minot City Council for final consideration.