Jefferson County Reviews Criteria for New Data Centers
Jefferson County's Development Services Director Josh Johnson provided an update to the County Commission on efforts to create specific criteria for large data centers in unincorporated areas. The county's current zoning ordinance lacks explicit provisions for data centers, prompting the need for new regulations. The process involves an environmental impact review and collaboration with legal teams to develop robust evaluation criteria for future developments.
Jefferson County's Development Services Director Josh Johnson presented an update to the County Commission regarding the ongoing process of establishing specific criteria for large data center developments within unincorporated areas. County Commission President Jimmie Stephens had previously emphasized the need for regulations, noting the rapid pace of data center construction nationwide. The current zoning ordinance, updated last year, lacks explicit provisions for data centers.
Johnson informed the commission that his department is developing an an environmental impact review framework. This framework will enable them to ask pertinent questions of developers proposing data center projects and other heavy industrial, utility-intensive uses, leading to informed recommendations for the commission. The Development Services Department, in collaboration with County Attorney Theo Lawson and his team, has received constructive feedback on their draft criteria. The goal is to create comprehensive criteria for evaluating future data center proposals.