Sioux County residents can weigh in on proposed data center regulations tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29, during a public hearing at 9 a.m.
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 it passes the first reading, a second reading will be held October 13 at 9 a.m. Approval at that meeting would advance the proposal to a third and final reading October 27 at 9 a.m.
If approved at the final reading, the amendment would take effect upon publication.
The Planning and Zoning Commission previously recommended approval. In an earlier interview with Sioux County Radio, Zoning Director Shane Walter described the standards developers would face.
“The rules associated with it are incredibly stringent. In fact, this type of a facility would be held to a much higher standard than any business currently in Sioux County,” Walter said.
Walter previously said the proposal addresses 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 data center applications. Adoption would not approve an individual project, which would still require a separate application and review process.
