Butler County commissioners to consider data center zoning regulations Nov. 3

The Butler County Board of County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 205 W. Central Ave., 4th Floor, in El Dorado.

Commissioners will consider Resolution 26-40, which would adopt amendments to Article 7, Section 7-3, 7-301 (20) of the county zoning regulations to set data center regulations.

The Butler County Planning Commission recommended the data center regulations on Sept. 1 after joint work sessions and a public hearing. Commissioners discussed the recommendation on Oct. 6 and tabled further consideration.

Staff says substantive modifications requested by the commission have been made, along with non-substantive changes, and is recommending approval of the regulations passed by the Planning Commission along with the substantive departures listed. The agenda packet includes a clean draft, a redlined draft, a list of substantive departures, a draft data center conditional use permit application and letters received from Oct. 8 to Oct. 20.

Under the staff report, the regulations set a baseline, and the Planning Commission and County Commission could add more stringent conditions through the conditional use process.