Proposed 8-month moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lake County easily clears first step

The first approval in a proposed eight-month moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lake County advanced Tuesday.

The Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved the measure following two hours of testimony at a public hearing attended by more than 150 residents. In addition, more than 1,000 comments were received online, according to ZBA Chair Gregory Koeppen.

“We are committed to using this time to develop a thoughtful, comprehensive data center ordinance for our unincorporated areas based on best practices, sound research, and meaningful input from our staff and residents,” he said in a statement.

Tuesday’s hearing at the Lake County Central Permit Facility in Libertyville was to consider text amendments and gather public input on a proposed temporary moratorium.

Trying to get ahead of a fast-moving and increasingly controversial issue, the Lake County Board in early June agreed to pursue a temporary data center moratorium in unincorporated areas, which are under county control.

That action directed the advisory zoning board of appeals to hold a hearing to determine whether Lake County should establish a moratorium and if eight months was appropriate.

If adopted, a moratorium would give the county time to evaluate data centers as an emerging land use, assess potential infrastructure, environmental and other impacts and identify best practices that could assist in drafting regulations and restrictions on such development, the county said.

Koeppen said he hoped an ordinance to be developed could become a model for other Lake County communities. The county has not received any proposals to develop a data center in its jurisdiction.

However, approved plans for a massive data center campus in Grayslake has ignited pushback, protests and grass-roots opponents who have established a presence at village board meetings in Grayslake and elsewhere.

Koeppen said data centers have to be considered beyond property lines.

“We need to understand what they could mean for groundwater, electricity, infrastructure, neighboring homes, our environment and emergency services,” he said.

The matter next goes to the Lake County Board’s planning, building, zoning and environment committee Sept. 2 and the full county board Sept. 8.