The Broken Bow Planning Commission will take the first step toward developing zoning regulations for data centers during a public hearing scheduled for noon on Tuesday (June 30) at the Broken Bow Municipal Building.
While no projects are currently being proposed in Broken Bow, the city is starting the process of establishing regulations that would address potential impacts and ensure they are prepared going forward.
Broken Bow Deputy Clerk and Zoning Administrator Jacob Holcomb told KCNI/KBBN that the city wants to be proactive when it comes to discussions about data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities.
“We’ve seen other communities and counties and the process that they’re going through, and we don’t want to be reactive. We want to be proactive here,” said Holcomb.
Tuesday’s hearing will be held before the Planning Commission, a board made up of residents from Broken Bow and the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) which Holcomb described as a one mile ‘bubble’ beyond city limits that is also subject to Broken Bow’s zoning regulations.
After gathering public input and writing a proposed ordinance, the commission would then make a recommendation to Broken Bow City Council, which would then conduct their own public hearings and process before a final decision.
Several areas are already ‘on the radar’ of the city as points that should be addressed through regulations including noise, power consumption, water usage, and more.
“We need to have something on the books that is enforceable,” Holcomb said. “We’re just in the very beginning planning stages (so that) a year from now, or maybe five years from now, we’re in a position to where we can look after our community’s interests and make sure that all those things can be addressed ahead of time.”
Holcomb said items currently being considered are requirements for conditional use permits, sound studies, cooling systems designed to reduce noise and water consumption, infrastructure protections, and financial guarantees requiring operators to restore a site to its original condition if a facility is abandoned.
Transparency is priority number one for the city, according to Holcomb. He said Tuesday’s hearing won’t result in a final recommendation.
“I’ll make the recommendation to our planning commission that we’re not going to pass anything up on to City Council,” Holcomb said. “More or less we’re going to present what we’ve put together so far for a zoning ordinance and again we just want to hear from everybody in the community (and) their different ideas.”
After public comments have been made and additions to the draft considered, more planning commission meetings and public hearings would happen before the City Council stage of the process.
Holcomb encouraged residents to attend and participate in the discussion, saying he hopes to see the auditorium full.
Listen to Station Manager Jeremy Shipe’s full conversation with Jacob Holcomb here:
Data center zoning hearing at a glance
WHO: The Broken Bow Planning Commission and members of the public
WHAT: A public hearing to gather community input on proposed zoning regulations for future data centers and similar facilities
WHEN: Tuesday, June 30 starting at Noon
WHERE: Broken Bow Municipal Building
WHY: The City of Broken Bow is starting the process of data center specific zoning regulations to address issues like noise, power and water consumption, etc. before any potential projects are proposed.
WHAT: A public hearing to gather community input on proposed zoning regulations for future data centers and similar facilities
WHEN: Tuesday, June 30 starting at Noon
WHERE: Broken Bow Municipal Building
WHY: The City of Broken Bow is starting the process of data center specific zoning regulations to address issues like noise, power and water consumption, etc. before any potential projects are proposed.
