HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Planning Commission will review proposed permanent zoning regulations for data centers during its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27, as the city continues developing rules to address concerns about water consumption, electricity demand and environmental impacts.
The commission will examine a draft prepared by city staff following public input, stakeholder discussions and a review of regulations in other communities.
Under the proposal, large-scale data centers would be limited to the Kansas Enterprise Industrial Park and Kimbell Industrial Park. Facilities with a combined footprint of 100,000 square feet or more would be classified as large-scale data centers, although commissioners have not finalized that threshold.
Smaller data centers could be permitted in certain industrial zoning districts, with conditional use permits required outside the two designated industrial parks.
The proposed regulations would also establish water conservation requirements, including the use of air-cooled or closed-loop cooling systems. Open-loop evaporative cooling systems would be prohibited as the primary cooling method.
Other provisions include noise limits of 60 decibels during daytime hours and 50 decibels overnight, restrictions on routine generator testing, environmental reporting requirements and plans for decommissioning facilities that cease operations.
Several issues remain unresolved, including annual water consumption limits, whether data centers within the two industrial parks should require conditional use permits and what financial guarantees developers should provide for future cleanup.
During its Oct. 13 meeting, the commission reviewed feedback from residents and stakeholders who raised concerns about groundwater, electricity costs, noise and the potential effects of data centers on surrounding properties.
City officials adopted temporary zoning regulations in June requiring conditional use permits for data centers and battery energy storage systems while permanent regulations are developed.
According to city documents, Hutchinson had not received any development applications, zoning requests, building permits or incentive requests for a data center or utility-scale battery energy storage project as of October.
Tuesday's discussion will allow commissioners to recommend revisions before a public hearing scheduled for Nov. 10. The proposed regulations are expected to reach the Hutchinson City Council for consideration Dec. 1.
Two additional agenda items, involving preliminary plats for Mill Creek Crossing Phase III Addition and The Wesley Third Addition, have been deferred to Nov. 10. Both properties are generally located southwest of North Monroe Street and West 43rd Avenue.