Warrick County tables data center ordinance after lengthy hearing

Warrick County officials recently tabled a proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance that sought to regulate data centers, following a public hearing on Monday, July 13, at the Warrick County Area Plan Commission (APC) meeting in Boonville, Indiana. The amendment aimed to define and regulate small, medium, and large data centers, prohibiting any exceeding 40,000 square feet.

Lloyd Winnecke, president and CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) and former mayor of Evansville, spoke in favor of data centers, highlighting their potential economic benefits, including job creation and an increased tax base. However, community members, with a list of speakers stretching seven pages, voiced significant opposition, citing concerns about water usage, noise, pollution, utility strain, and electronic waste issues, similar to those raised in other communities.

Warrick County Commissioner Stacey Franz, also an APC member, advocated for more time to review the ordinance to protect the county and address citizen concerns, stating the current draft was not comprehensive. The board ultimately voted 5-2 to table the issue for four months to gather more information and refine the ordinance. Additionally, the board voted 4-3 to draft a separate ordinance proposing a moratorium on all data centers through December, to be presented at the August meeting, allowing further work on the regulatory language.