In a 20-page draft zoning document released in June, city planning staff recommended that no major data centers be allowed in Fayette County, leaving room for smaller operations under specific circumstances.
"Only minor data centers, defined as 50,000 square feet or less, would be allowed in certain industrial zones as a conditional use. That's only if they meet a number of operational and environmental standards," says Aaron Mudd was CivicLex.
Councilmember Liz Sheehan, who sponsored the data center regulatory review, says the upcoming meeting is a chance for the council to hear directly from Lexington residents about their questions and concerns.
Vice Mayor Dan Wu recently linked the city's debate over expanding solar projects to data centers, saying the city needs to diversify its energy inputs, especially as potential demands grow.
"Many community members opposed to hyperscale data centers, including myself, are concerned about energy usage and the impact on both our electrical grid and our utility bills," he said.
Lexington's moratorium on data center projects is set to expire at the end of October. The October 6th data center public meeting will be held at 5.30 p.m. in the government center.
More information on Lexington's data center zoning updates can be found at engage.lexingtonky.gov.