Orange City, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Sioux County residents will have an opportunity to comment on proposed data center regulations during a public hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29th.
The hearing will take place in the Board of Supervisors Room at the Sioux County Courthouse, 210 Central Ave. SW in Orange City.
According to the county’s public notice, supervisors will consider the proposed amendment to County Ordinance No. 1 following the hearing. If the proposal passes its first reading, a second reading would be held Oct. 13th at 9 a.m. Approval at that meeting would advance the amendment to a third and final reading on Oct. 27th at 9 a.m.
If approved following the final reading, the amendment would take effect upon publication.
The Sioux County Planning and Zoning Commission has already recommended approval of the proposal. In an earlier interview, Zoning Director Shane Walter described the standards developers would face.
Walter has said the proposal addresses issues including water use, electricity demand, noise, and developer responsibilities. Requirements would include independent studies, a closed-loop cooling system, and funding for first responder training and equipment.
The amendment would establish rules for considering future data center applications. Adoption of the ordinance would not approve any specific project, as individual proposals would still require a separate application and review process.
