No more delays for Indy's data center rules
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A crucial vote on a proposed blueprint for data center development in Indianapolis won't be delayed for a third time, city leaders say.
Why it matters: Data centers have been approved on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, with no consistent rules, sparking fierce pushback across Indy.
Driving the news: After months of working drafts and symbolic one-year moratoriums, next month's Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) meeting could bring the city one step closer to establishing its first zoning framework for data centers.
Flashback: Unveiled in April, the draft ordinance calls for a new special-use zoning district that would require each development to undergo a full rezoning and public hearing.
- The ordinance also sets 24-hour noise limits; establishes distance requirements from facilities such as schools and churches; and requires that an environmental operations plan be in place before any building permit is issued.
The other side: Critics say the proposed rules fail to place meaningful limits on where data centers can be built and would have no impact on projects already targeting historic neighborhoods.
State of play: The data center debate has proved particularly contentious in Indianapolis.
- In April, Councilor Ron Gibson's house was shot at and a note reading "No Data Centers" was left on his doorstep. Gibson has supported a data center from Metrobloks in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood.
- Councilors voted earlier this month to remove their home addresses from public ethics disclosure forms in response.
Yes, but: May 20 and June 3 public hearings to vote on and potentially move the zoning ordinance to the City-County Council for approval were continued at the request of Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) staff.
The latest: During the June 3 meeting, DMD administrator of current planning Bryce Patz said that amendments are being made to the proposed ordinance, and that "we will be ready to go on July 1."
- In an email to Axios, a DMD spokesperson said the continuances give staff additional time to review public comments, evaluate stakeholder feedback and refine language before MDC consideration.
- Additional public comments can be submitted by email to [email protected].
- That feedback will be shared with the MDC and the City-County Council for consideration before or during their respective hearings, per the email.
Between the lines: Whatever regulations the council adopts will apply only to new projects, not to those like Metrobloks that have already been approved, or to the DC Blox project being considered in Irvington.
Zoom out: Other Hoosier communities are also wrestling with data center regulations.
- Boone County commissioners on Monday unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on the development of new data centers while they draft their own zoning regulations.
- With the decision, there are now a dozen Indiana counties with data center pauses in place.
- Marshall and Cass counties took things a step further by approving outright bans in April.
What's next: The next Metropolitan Development Commission meeting starts at 1pm on July 1.