MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Public concerns over potential data center development dominated discussion during Tuesday night's Hutchinson City Council meeting, while council members also approved a community improvement district for the Landmark redevelopment project and accepted bids for a major tree removal initiative.
Several residents addressed the council during public comment, raising questions about the long-term impacts of data centers on water resources, electrical infrastructure, noise, public safety and economic development.
Community Development Director Matt Williams provided an update on the city's ongoing effort to establish regulations for data centers and battery energy storage systems. Williams said the city is pursuing a two-track process, including temporary regulations requiring conditional use permits and the development of permanent regulations.
The temporary regulations will be considered by the Planning Commission on June 9 and are expected to return to the council for final consideration July 7. Permanent data center regulations will be developed throughout the summer with input from the Planning Commission, stakeholders and the public.
Williams emphasized that no formal applications, zoning requests, building permits or incentive requests have been submitted for a proposed data center project that has generated public interest.
"At this time, the city has not received any development applications, zoning requests, building permits, incentive requests or other formal submissions related to this data center," Williams said. "City staff's involvement has been limited to a single informal discussion facilitated by an outside organization."
Williams said any potential project discussed with city staff would not be expected to begin construction for at least eight to nine months, allowing time for permanent regulations to be established.
The council also approved creation of a Community Improvement District (CID) for the redevelopment of the Landmark building at 501 N. Main St. The ordinance authorizes a 2% CID sales tax to reimburse eligible redevelopment expenses up to $1.5 million or for a maximum of 22 years.
Developers said the CID was included in a memorandum of understanding approved by the city in 2024 and is one component of a financing package supporting the more than $22 million redevelopment project.
The measure passed 3-1, with Council Member Stacy Goss voting against it, Mayor Scott Meggers was absent from the meeting.
In other business, the council accepted a low bid of $19,990 from Barnes Tree and Stump Removal LLC for the removal of 48 dead or deteriorating trees in the Founders neighborhood.
Parks and Facilities Director Justin Combs said the project is funded through a $100,000 Inflation Reduction Act urban forestry grant administered by the Kansas Forest Service. Approximately 80% of the trees slated for removal are Siberian elms, which have been identified as dead or in poor condition.
The city plans to replace removed trees at a two-to-one ratio, with replacement trees offered first to affected property owners at no cost.
Council members also received a draft policy governing ceremonial proclamations and recognitions. Assistant City Attorney Cody Smith said the proposed policy is intended to ensure proclamations remain official city communications and to provide guidance for future requests. No action was taken, and the council is expected to revisit the proposal at a future meeting.
Additional actions included approval of a zoning change near East 30th Avenue and North Waldron Street to allow development of a drive-through restaurant and an update on a planned free-range cat room addition at the Hutchinson Animal Shelter. City officials said the shelter project would be funded through private donations and trust funds rather than local tax dollars.