Planning & Zoning Committee - Special Meeting — Agenda Packet

Chippewa County Planning & Zoning Committee Regular Meeting August 3, 2026 Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 302 5:00 PM District 17, Chair George Rohmeyer, Jr. District 9, Vice-Chair Joel Seidlitz District 7 Jason Bergeron District 14 David Kelley District 16 Rocky Kempe Page 1 of 10 Chippewa County Planning & Zoning Committee Regular Meeting August 3, 2026 Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 302 5:00 PM 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Members of the Public Wishing to Be Heard (Comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker.) 4. Consent Agenda (Unless separation of an item is requested, all items will be adopted under one motion.) 1. Approve the Agenda 5. Reports 6. Public Hearing - For Discussion and Action 1. Ordinance to amend Chapter 70 of the Chippewa County Code of Ordinances to adopt a Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development 7. Business Items 1. Ordinance to amend Chapter 70 of the Chippewa County Code of Ordinances to adopt a Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development 8. Agenda Items for Future Consideration 9. Adjourn Chippewa County shall attempt to provide reasonable special accommodations to the public for access to its public meetings, provided reasonable notice of special need is given. If special accommodations for a meeting are desired, contact the County Clerk’s Office at 715-726- 7980. Members of the Chippewa County Board of Supervisors who are not members of this committee are entitled to attend this meeting. It is possible that the attendance of one or more such nonmember Supervisors may create a quorum of some other county board committee, board or commission. Such a quorum is unintended and the nonmember Supervisors are not meeting for the purpose of exercising the responsibility, authority, power, or duties of any other committee, board or commission. Published: July 29, 2026 Page 2 of 10 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & ZONING  711 North Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729  Phone:715.726.7940  www.chippewacountywi.gov  Land Management Land Planning Land Records & G.I.S. POWTS & Wells CHIPPEWA COUNTY (Posted: July 24, 2026) OFFICIAL Notice of Public Hearing on a Proposed Amendment to the Chippewa County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance PUBLIC NOTICE is given to all persons residing in Chippewa County that a public hearing will be held on August 3 , 2026 at 5:00 PM, in Room 302, Chippewa County Courthouse, 711 N. Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin for the purpose of receiving comments and approving amendments to the Chippewa County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 70. The proposed amendment will create section 70-9, entitled Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development. A copy of the proposed amendment, dated July 24, 2026, will be on file and open for public inspection in the Chippewa County Department of Planning & Zoning. All persons interested are invited to attend this hearing. Written comments will be accepted until 12:00 Noon on August 3, 2026 and can be sent or delivered to: Chippewa County Department of Planning & Zoning, Room 009, 711 N. Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729. Douglas Clary, Director Department of Planning & Zoning Chippewa County, Wisconsin Page 3 of 10 For Public Hearing Scheduled on August 3, 2026 Dated: July 24, 2026 Page 1 of 6 ORD. XX-26 ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 70 OF THE CHIPPEWA COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADOPT A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT 1. That sec�on 70-9 of the Chippewa County Code of Ordinances is hereby created as follows: Sec. 70-9 Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development (a) Recitals. The following r ecitals are true and accurate, and are therefore incorporated herein as findings of fact and shall be used not just for reference: WHEREAS, the Chippewa County Board of Supervisors ( “County Board”) has the authority to enact zoning regula�ons and adopt interim measures to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 59.03, Wis. Stat. § 59.69(4) , and other applicable provisions of Wisconsin law; and WHEREAS, recent technological advancements have significantly increased the demand for data centers and associated infrastructure suppor�ng cloud compu�ng, ar�ficial intelligence, digital communica�ons, electronic commerce, financial services, governmental opera�ons, scien�fic research, and other data processing ac�vi�es; and WHEREAS, modern data centers are substan�ally different from tradi�onal commercial, industrial, and other manufacturing buildings because data centers o�en require extensive and unique electrical infrastructure, high -capacity transmission facili�es, substa�ons, backup genera�on systems, batery energy storage systems, cooling equipment, fiber op�c infrastructure, specialized water supply systems and wastewater facili�es, and other specialized improvements necessary for con�nuous opera�on; and WHEREAS, construc�on and opera�on of a data center in Chippewa County may require substan�al public and private infrastructure improvements, including roadway improvements, u�lity extensions, electrical substa�ons, transmission lines, telecommunica�ons facili�es, and emergency service capabili�es that are not currently addressed by the exis�ng Chippewa County Code of Ordinances (“County Ordinances”); and WHEREAS, data centers may create general land use impacts but, due to the par�cular nature of a proposed data center, may also create unique impacts that are not addressed in the County Ordinances, including unique impacts involving noise from mechanical cooling equipment and emergency generators, exterior ligh�ng, visual impacts, construc�on traffic, water consump�on, wastewater genera�on, stormwater management, emergency response planning, hazardous materials, fire su ppression Page 4 of 10 For Public Hearing Scheduled on August 3, 2026 Dated: July 24, 2026 Page 2 of 6 systems, and compa�bility with neighboring residen�al, agricultural, commercial, and industrial proper�es; and WHEREAS, associated infrastructure serving a data center may extend well beyond the principal building and may include electrical substa�ons, transmission facili�es, batery energy storage systems, cooling towers, water storage facili�es, wastewater treatment equipment, fuel storage, fiber op�c infrastructure, security improvements, and other accessory structures necessary for opera�on of a data center; and WHEREAS, Chapter 70 of the Chippewa County Code of Ordinances (“County Zoning Ordinance”), presently contains no specific defini�on of a Data Center (as defined herein) and do es not establish zoning districts, permi�ng procedures, development standards, setback requirements, landscaping standards, noise limita�ons, buffering requirements, decommissioning requirements, financial assurance requirements, or other regula�ons spec ifically applicable to data centers, and the unique impacts of use that may result from a data center within Chippewa County; and WHEREAS, allowing applica�ons for data centers to proceed before comprehensive zoning regula�ons are considered and adopted could result in inconsistent land use decisions, insufficient development standards, conflicts with surrounding land uses, increased demands on public infrastructure, and impacts to the health, safety, and general welfare of Chippewa County’s residents, natural resources, property, businesses and visitors; and WHEREAS, the County Board has discussed whether it is in the public interest to temporarily preserve the status quo rela�ng to data center construc�on and use in Chippewa County while Chippewa County: (a) researches the land use, environmental, health, and other impacts of data centers; (b) consults with other coun�es and municipali�es, u�li�es, emergency responders, property owners, planning professionals, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders regarding the poten�al impacts of data centers in Chippewa County; (c) determines whether any certain areas should be designated for a data center if a data center is determined to require special regula�ons; and (d) prepares any required amendment to the Chippewa County Comprehensive Plan and comprehensive zoning regula�ons addressing the loca�on, construc�on, opera�on, expansion, maintenance, and decommissioning of data centers within Chippewa County; and WHEREAS, the County Board intends that this temporary moratorium shall not prohibit future data centers in Chippewa County , but rather provide sufficient �me to develop objec�ve, reasonable, and legally defensible land use regula�ons that provide Page 5 of 10 For Public Hearing Scheduled on August 3, 2026 Dated: July 24, 2026 Page 3 of 6 certainty to both the public and prospec�ve applicants while protec�ng the public health, safety, and general welfare from the poten�al impacts of a data center in Chippewa County; and WHEREAS, the County Board has discussed the appropriate �meframe for a temporary moratorium, and whether a ten (10) month temporary moratorium is in the best interest of the public health, safety, and general welfare, during which there will be a moratorium upon the considera�on of any applica�on to develop, construct or operate a data center and/or issuance of any permits or approvals for data centers; and WHEREAS, the County Board has discussed whether a ten (10) month temporary moratorium is reasonably necessary to allow adequate �me for research, ordinance prepara�on, public review, town board recommenda�ons, the County Planning and Zoning Commitee (“Commitee”) considera�on, legal counsel review, County Board considera�on and ac�on, and implementa�on of comprehensive regula�ons governing data centers. (b) Declaration of Moratorium. There is hereby imposed a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of any applica�on to construct or operate any Data Center (as defined herein), and considera�on and/or issuance of any zoning permit, building permit, condi�onal use permit, or zoning approval for a Data Center under any part of the County Ordinances or any other provision of applicable law. The temporary moratorium set forth shall be referred to herein as the “Moratorium”. (1) Definition. For purposes of this Moratorium, “Data Center” means a building, campus, or group of buildings used for the primary purpose of cloud compu�ng, ar�ficial intelligence compu�ng, digital storage, networking, internet hos�ng, coloca�on services, cryptocurrency processing, high -performance compu�ng, or other electronic data processing ac�vi�es, together with all associated infrastructure necessary for opera�on of which the total square feet exceeds 20,000 square feet . Associated infrastructure includes any building, facility, equipment or improvement (temporary or permanent) that is reasonably necessary for the construc�on, opera�on, maintenance, expansion, or decommissioning of a Data Center, including but not limited to: server buildings and suppor�ng structures; electrical substa�ons; electrical transmission and distribu�on facili�es; batery energy storage systems (BESS); emergency backup generators; fuel storage facili�es; cooling equipment and cooling towers; chilled water systems; water supply and storage facili�es; wastewater collec�on and treatment facili�es; fiber op�c infrastructure; telecommunica�ons equipment; Page 6 of 10 For Public Hearing Scheduled on August 3, 2026 Dated: July 24, 2026 Page 4 of 6 security buildings and fencing; parking, loading, and access roads; and any other infrastructure constructed primarily to support the opera�on of a Data Center. (2) Exceptions to the Moratorium. This Moratorium shall not apply to: a. Rou�ne maintenance or repair of exis�ng legally established facili�es. b. Server rooms or computer equipment accessory to an exis�ng principal use that does not meet the defini�on of a Data Center. c. Public safety communica�on facili�es owned or operated by a governmental en�ty. d. U�lity facili�es, energy genera�on facili�es, and energy storage facili�es that are not constructed solely or primarily to serve a proposed Data Center. (3) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to authorize any use otherwise prohibited under the County Ordinances. (c) Purpose. The purpose of this Moratorium is to preserve the status quo while Chippewa County researches, evaluates, and develops comprehensive plans and zoning regula�ons governing the si�ng, construc�on, opera�on, expansion, maintenance, and decommissioning of Data Centers in order to preserve and protect public health, safety and general welfare. (d) Authority. This Moratorium is adopted pursuant to the authority granted to coun�es under Wis. Stat. § 59.03 , Wis. Stat. § 59.69 (4), and any other applicable provisions of Wisconsin law authorizing coun�es to regulate land use and adopt temporary moratoriums to preserve the public health, safety, and general welfare. The County Board finds that adop�on of this Moratorium cons�tutes a reasonable exercise of its police powers and zoning authority for the preserva�on and protec�on of the public health, safety and general welfare of Chippewa County’s residents, natural resources, property, businesses and visitors. (e) Duration of Moratorium . The moratorium set forth in this Moratorium shall become effec�ve upon adop�on and publica�on as required by law, and shall remain in effect for a period of ten (10) months, unless sooner repealed, modified, superseded, or replaced by ac�on of the County Board. The moratorium set forth in this Moratorium shall automa�cally terminate upon the effec�ve date of an ordinance establishing permanent zoning regula�ons governing Data Centers regardless of whether the full ten-month period has elapsed , unless otherwise determined by the County Board. Page 7 of 10 For Public Hearing Scheduled on August 3, 2026 Dated: July 24, 2026 Page 5 of 6 The County Board reserves the right to amend this Moratorium as permited by Wisconsin law if it determines such amendment is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare or to facilitate implementa�on of permanent zoning regula�ons. (f) Direction to Develop Data Center Regulations. During the period of this Moratorium, the Commitee, and the Chippewa County Director of Planning and Zoning (the “Administrator”), or the Administrator’s delegate(s), are directed to research and dra� an amendment to the County Zoning O rdinance, to be presented to the County Board, providing comprehensive and appropriate regula�ons of Data Centers to protect the health, safety and general welfare of Chippewa County’s residents, natural resources, property, businesses, visitors and the public from the poten�al impacts of Data Center construc�on and opera�on in Chippewa County. It is the inten�on of the County Board to amend the Chippewa County Comprehensive Plan and the County Zoning Ordinance by adop�ng an amendment to the exis�ng County Comprehensive Plan and County Zoning Ordinance to address the si�ng and regula�ons for the development and use of Data Centers, before the expira�on of the moratorium set forth in this Moratorium. (g) Subjects for Consideration. In preparing an amendment to the exis�ng County Comprehensive Plan and County Zoning Ordinance, the Commitee and the Administrator shall review the possible impacts that Data Centers may have on the health, safety and general welfare of the residents, natural resources, property, businesses and visitors of Chippewa County. The Administrator may, in his or her discre�on, consult with other coun�es and municipali�es, review and research appropriate studies and informa�on pertaining to data centers, associated infrastructure, si�ng impacts, land use impacts, and other impacts, and then report back to the Commitee. The Administrator may also, in his or her discre�on, consult with any professionals, experts or scholars with knowledge about the possible impacts of these systems, including but not limited to engineers, lawyers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters and those with specialized knowledge in the fields of data storage facili�es’ poten�al impacts on the human environment, geology, soils, air and water quality and conserva�on, emergency response, or other public health or environmental protec�on issues, and then report back to the Commitee. The Commitee shall provide opportuni�es for public par�cipa�on in its review process, and consider the public health, safety and general welfare of Chippewa County’s residents, natural resources, wildlife, property, businesses and visitors throughout the process. (h) Severability. If a sec�on, subsec�on, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Moratorium is declared uncons�tu�onal or invalid for any reason by any court of competent jurisdic�on, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining por�ons of this Moratorium. Page 8 of 10 For Public Hearing Scheduled on August 3, 2026 Dated: July 24, 2026 Page 6 of 6 (i) Construction. If the provisions of this Moratorium are found to be inconsistent with other provisions of this ordinance or any County Ordinances, the provisions of this Moratorium are deemed to control. 2. That this ordinance amendment shall take effect upon passage and publica�on. Forwarded to the County Board by the Planning & Zoning Commitee. Page 9 of 10 Statement of Explanation Ordinance to amend Chapter 70 of the Chippewa County Code of Ordinances to adopt a Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development 1 Page 10 of 10