Vanderburgh County is joining with other local counties in beginning to address the hot-button issue of data centers.
The Vanderburgh County Area Plan Commission will take up an ordinance concerning data centers at their meeting on August 6.
While Posey and Warrick Counties have drafts to regulate data centers, Vanderburgh is first interested in forming a work group to study the matter.
Without a specific ordinance, Joshua Claybourn, attorney for municipalities, said other legal mechanisms would be used to regulate these projects.
“There are always general building permits that apply that require certain base levels of safety. The main one is called an ‘improvement location permit,’ and then you've got other things … just in terms of fire safety.”
Zoning codes are also important. Data centers are generally only allowed in zoned industrial areas.
The city of Evansville doesn’t currently have plans for an ordinance. Council President Ben Trockman said there isn’t really enough room in the city for a large development.
The proposal by the Vanderburgh County Commission would form a five-person study group to research into the topic, while pausing data center permits for six months.
Resident Christopher Newman spoke at the July 14 meeting about the need for a regional response to data centers.
“Posey, Warrick, Vanderburgh, and Gibson counties are already beginning to confront many of these questions, but each county appears to be approaching them separately, while the utilities, developers, and economic development organizations involved operate regionally,” Newman said.
Commission President Justin Elpers said he’s forwarding Newman’s proposal for a regional work group to the APC.
The APC will look at the commission’s ordinance proposal Thursday Aug. 6 at 3 PM.
In any county, the County Commission, as the legislative branch of county government, makes the final decision on an ordinance.
Support independent journalism today. You rely on WNIN to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Give to grow our local reporting today. Donate