(Community First Broadcasting Staff Photo)Orange City, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Proposed regulations for data centers in Sioux County are headed to the Board of Supervisors, with a September 29th public hearing planned set as the first of three readings before a possible final decision in October.
The county’s Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the zoning ordinance amendment. During the supervisors’ September 15th meeting, officials outlined the next steps for reviewing the proposal and gathering public input.
In a follow-up interview, Zoning Director Shane Walter said the proposal would establish requirements addressing water use, electricity demand, noise, infrastructure, and financial contributions.
Proposed Requirements Address Water, Power, and Noise
Walter said the proposal calls for independent studies to show a data center could meet county standards for water use, electricity use, and noise. Periodic studies would also be required to confirm continued compliance.
Some studies would accompany an application, while others would be completed after construction but before the facility could operate.
The ordinance would require a closed-loop cooling system and prohibit using well water for cooling. A well could supply domestic uses, such as offices and bathrooms, but would require a study examining potential effects on neighboring property owners within a two-mile radius.
The proposal also includes independent technical review. At the supervisors’ meeting, County Attorney Tom Kunstle highlighted a provision allowing a county-selected peer review group to analyze studies involving water, noise, and power.
Walter said developers would also face requirements intended to support public infrastructure and emergency services. Those include:
- A concrete road serving the facility, subject to county engineer requirements
- Developer-funded training and equipment for area first responders.
A community betterment fund would be negotiated between the county and an applicant, with payments increasing over time. Walter also described a separate infrastructure improvement fund that could support roads, bridges, and other county needs.
Three Readings Would Allow Public Input
Walter said the anticipated schedule includes:
- September 29th — first hearing and reading
- October 13th — second reading
- October 27th — third reading, if proposal advances
Residents can attend meetings to offer comments or contact their supervisors directly. County officials discussed making the full amendment available on the county website and through the auditor’s and zoning offices.
If supervisors adopt the amendment, it would take effect upon publication. Walter said the board would also need to rescind the existing data-center moratorium, which was intended to give the county time to develop regulations.
Approval of the ordinance would establish requirements for future applications; it would not approve a particular data center. Individual projects would still face a separate application and approval process, including additional opportunities for public input.
