Zoning Categorizations with the Rapid Expansion of Data Centers
By: Jack Brestel
Over the past couple of years, many municipalities have grappled with the possibilities surrounding data centers that have risen due to the rapid transformation of technological operations. Among the many considerations a data center must make when determining a build location, land acquisition and zoning are at the top of the list as well as being the most controversial issues with the public.[1] With the growing need for large companies to house their data, cloud farms, and artificial intelligence outside of the main office—mainly to accommodate vast amounts of information—building data centers has been the main solution, especially in areas where noise concerns, energy consumption, and building height regulations are favorable.[2] Further, companies often run into issues with excessive water or energy consumption and have to solve them with the municipalities themselves.[3] With local law attempting to keep up with the expansion of these centers, zoning issues commonly arise.
