Fayette County residents push back on data center zoning plan

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Fayette County residents voiced opposition Tuesday to hyperscale data centers and current zoning recommendations put forth earlier this year by the planning commission.

“I expect for my council, my representatives to represent me. Not big industry,” one resident said.

Opponents cite risks, demand moratorium extension

Opponents said that if the draft moves forward, anticipated noise, water, energy, financial and air quality impacts will put communities at risk.

Those opposed overwhelmingly demanded a two-year extension of the moratorium and a complete ban of centers larger than 25 megawatts if evidence discovered in those two years points to negative impacts.

“Other safety critical industries such as transportation, energy, medicine and weapons are regulated and monitored. AI needs to be treated the same,” one speaker said.

Other demands included a cap on data center license issuances, incentives to use lower carbon emission fuels, cutting the decibel limit to 25, and changing zoning rules to limit a center by its utility intake rather than square footage. Some also called for a one-year extension of the data center moratorium.

Some see economic opportunity

Others in attendance Tuesday said they see AI and data centers as drivers of economic growth in the future and do not wish to jeopardize it.

“Data infrastructure is critically important. Data technology, having that infrastructure here is as essential to economic development today as sites and buildings, as water and sewer, and broadband capacity,” one speaker said.

Developer addresses concerns

Several speakers noted data center developer DART Point’s recent acquisition of more than 300,000 square feet of property to create a data center campus. A DART Point representative addressed resource-based concerns.

“We’re not a threat on the noise factor, the water system we use will be a closed loop system, and the power, we already have it,” the representative said.

Urban County Council members said they will continue discussions on data centers at the next meeting, including where any potential projects could be developed and how the data centers would be used.

The possibility of a one-year extension of the moratorium will also be discussed.