HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 10, to consider permanent zoning regulations for data centers, marking another step in the city's months-long effort to establish guidelines for potential developments.
The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 123 E. Avenue B.
City planning staff are recommending approval of the proposed regulations, which would establish requirements for where data centers can be located, how much water they can consume and what environmental and operational standards they must meet.
Under the proposal, large-scale data centers, defined as facilities with a combined footprint of at least 100,000 square feet, would only be permitted within the Kansas Enterprise Industrial Park and Kimbell Industrial Park.
Smaller facilities could be allowed in certain industrial zoning districts, although some would require conditional use permits.
The proposed regulations also include restrictions on water consumption, requiring data centers to use air-cooled, closed-loop liquid cooling or similarly efficient systems. Open-loop evaporative cooling systems used as the primary cooling method would be prohibited.
Standalone data centers would be limited to 5,000 hundred cubic feet of water per month, with monitoring requirements and annual reporting provisions.
Noise restrictions would also be established, limiting operational sound levels to 60 decibels during daytime hours and 50 decibels overnight.
Additional requirements would address electrical demand, emergency response planning, landscaping, screening and the removal of equipment if a facility permanently closes.
The city began developing permanent regulations in June following concerns about the potential impacts of large-scale data centers on Hutchinson's water supply, electrical infrastructure and surrounding neighborhoods.
An August public open house attracted more than 120 participants, while additional stakeholder meetings and Planning Commission discussions helped shape the proposed regulations.
During its Oct. 27 meeting, the commission reviewed preliminary language and discussed water usage limits, noise restrictions, conditional use permits and requirements for developers to establish plans for decommissioning facilities.
According to a city fact sheet dated Nov. 6, Hutchinson has not received any development applications, zoning requests, building permits or incentive requests for a data center or utility-scale battery energy storage project.
If the Planning Commission recommends approval Tuesday, the regulations will advance to the Hutchinson City Council for consideration. City officials previously identified Dec. 1 as a possible date for council review, contingent on having a full five-member council.
Board of Zoning Appeals to consider residential permit
The Hutchinson Board of Zoning Appeals also has a public hearing scheduled Tuesday to consider a special use permit for a single-family residence at 1405 N. Main St.
The property is currently zoned C-4 Special Commercial District, and its previous residential use has lost its grandfathered status because of vacancy, according to city planning documents.
The applicant, Jack Redman, is seeking permission to allow the property to be occupied as a single-family residence and eventually sold.
City staff are recommending approval of the request, subject to conditions.
The Planning Commission's agenda also includes two subdivision proposals, Mill Creek Crossing Phase III Addition and The Wesley Third Addition, both located southwest of North Monroe Street and West 43rd Avenue. Both items have been deferred indefinitely.