Wausau's first data center zoning rules head to council as Wisconsin communities scramble to respond
Wausau, Wisconsin, is moving to adopt its first zoning regulations for data centers, which define the facilities and restrict their location to industrial districts while requiring a conditional use permit. The proposed ordinance, endorsed by the Plan Commission, mandates studies on water, sound, and sustainability for any future data center proposal. Residents have urged caution and stricter limits, citing concerns over noise, pollution, utility costs, and aquifer impacts.
Wausau, Wisconsin, is poised to enact its inaugural zoning regulations for data centers, with the proposed ordinance advancing to the City Council following a unanimous endorsement from the Plan Commission. These new rules, recommended on June 16 after a public hearing, establish a framework for data center development that deviates from the moratoriums being adopted in other Wisconsin communities. Instead of pausing construction, Wausau's approach defines data centers within the city's zoning code for the first time and specifies where and how they can be built.
Under the ordinance, data centers would be confined to the city's medium and heavy industrial zoning districts. Even within these areas, a conditional use permit would be mandatory for any project, granting the Plan Commission the authority to approve or deny proposals after conducting a public hearing. Assistant Planner Carrie Edmondson noted that this process would enable the city to require extensive reports, including studies on water consumption and thermal management, wastewater management, sound, sustainability, and traffic, which exceed standard site plan reviews. She also highlighted that much of the available land in these qualifying districts is city-owned, necessitating additional approvals.
During the public hearing, four residents spoke, advocating for careful consideration and stricter limits, though none directly opposed the ordinance itself. Concerns raised included the potential for noise, pollution, and rising utility costs, with one resident pointing to the proximity of industrial parks to residential areas. Another resident called for a size cap on facilities and urged Wausau, as the county seat, to set a regional precedent. Additionally, a resident suggested requiring a decommissioning plan from operators and conducting a preliminary assessment of local water needs, citing aquifer concerns and development pauses in Michigan over water table changes.