LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville Metro's Office of Planning recommended even stricter regulations for future data centers in the city after reviewing thousands of public comments on the proposed rules.
The city announced Friday that it updated its proposal after reviewing more than 3,600 public comments submitted during a 30-day comment period.
The proposal, first released in June, would ban hyperscale data centers larger than 500,000 square feet. It would also limit future data centers to industrial areas and require developers to meet standards meant to protect neighborhoods, infrastructure and utility customers.
The commission also outlined the following additional regulations at the time:
- Protect utility customers by requiring evidence that new facilities will not shift any costs to existing ratepayers
- Require the developer presenting the proposal to bear the cost of improvements to infrastructure if upgrades are required
- Require environmentally low-impact construction and site design practices
- Require a public hearing and conditional use permit for data centers that do not meet outlined exceptions for existing business operations
- Establish noise standards and buffering requirements for generators and other equipment
- Require the entity making the proposal to be transparent and disclose the company that would own and be using the proposed development and
- Pay prevailing wages in connection with the project’s construction.
The latest version includes the same restrictions from original draft but adds more specificities based on what the public said it was looking for. Most notably, the city said it would require any large-scale data center to be built at least 500 feet away from "sensitive uses," including existing homes, hospitals, nursing homes, childcare centers and schools.
Smaller-scale data centers — between 50,000 to 250,000 square feet — would need to be 200 feet away.
Other notable additions include:
- Tightening generator rules by allowing testing only once per week, only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and making clear that regular generator use is only allowed during an emergency.
- Clarifying that gas turbines and co-located power plants are not allowed as part of a data center use. Power plants may still be reviewed separately under existing zoning rules. The proposed draft continues to encourage green energy generation.
- Adding limits for accessory data centers to help prevent larger data centers from being created through a loophole. Accessory data centers would be limited to the lessor of 25,000 square feet or up to 49.9% of the total floor area.
The city said it wants to continue taking feedback from the public and has planned four upcoming hearings starting next week.Â
Residents can attend any of the following sessions and speak for up to three minutes:
- Monday, July 27 at 5 p.m. at JCTC Southwest (1000 Community College Drive)
- Wednesday, August 5 at 5 p.m. at U of L Shelby Campus (450 N. Whittington Parkway)
- Thursday, August 6 at 5 p.m. online. To join, visit the Upcoming Public Meetings page.
- Monday, August 10 at 5 p.m. at the African American Heritage Center (1701 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard)
Click here to view the full proposal.
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