‘Taking this issue extremely seriously’: Lake County pursues data center moratorium

Trying to get ahead of a fast-moving and increasingly controversial issue, the Lake County Board on Tuesday agreed to pursue a temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated areas.

The official action directed the advisory zoning board of appeals to hold a hearing on proposed code changes to define data centers and establish an eight-month moratorium.

As that review and approval process can take time, the action is coupled with an “administrative deferral” of up to 120 days on data center applications to bridge the gap and make the pause immediate.

Given the complexity and potential long-term implications of data centers, county staff says it needs time to evaluate and develop definitions, zoning classifications, performance standards and review procedures before data center proposals move ahead.

“This is a very reasonable action,” said board member Paul Frank of Highland Park. As a member of the board's planning, building, zoning and environment committee, Frank in early December raised the issue of potential impacts of data centers and possible ways to slow their development.

“This is very responsive to the feedback we’ve been hearing from the community,” he added of Tuesday’s action.

Committee chair Marah Altenberg, a board member from Buffalo Grove, said the moratorium provides time to address questions related to water and energy use, infrastructure demand and long-term planning.

“We’re taking this issue extremely seriously,” she said.

Scrutiny of data centers and their potential impacts on water and power use and other considerations has become common throughout the region and country.

That’s the situation for the planned T5 data center in Grayslake. Though already approved with site work in progress, it has become the topic of sustained criticism, with a coalition of objectors planning to bring suit to stop the project.

Lake County apparently is the first county in the Chicago area to press pause, although some communities have done so. Data center regulation has not advanced at the state level.

“Being able to pause and methodically establish appropriate and necessary regulations is crucial,” Susan Pribyl, a resident in the unincorporated area near Round Lake, said Tuesday during public comments.

Lake County’s Unified Development Ordinance doesn’t define or regulate data centers. Although there are no pending applications under county jurisdiction, the intent is to leverage access to top industry experts and comprehensive data to create a model framework.

“If we take the time to do this correctly, other communities will be able to adopt proven regulations that protect residents while providing clear expectations for industry partners,” said board member Esiah Campos of Round Lake, who is also a member of the planning, building, zoning and environment committee.

Campos said the pause is needed to develop regulations that “protect taxpayers, preserve critical infrastructure, and hold developers accountable for the impact their projects may have on our communities.”