Planning & Economic Development Committee Meeting - June 17, 2026

The Onondaga County Legislature's Planning & Economic Development Committee met on June 17, 2026, to discuss several key topics related to community development and planning. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the approval of spending plans for HUD entitlement grants including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) for 2026. The committee reviewed the allocation of approximately $1.4 million in HUD funds to various municipalities and agencies, with all applicants receiving full funding for their proposed projects. The discussion also covered the annual update process for the consolidated action plan and eligibility criteria for funding based on census tract income levels. Additionally, the committee received a detailed briefing on the Onondaga County Planning Board's role in reviewing land use decisions and coordinating with municipalities on planning referrals, including zoning and subdivision actions. A major agenda item was the emerging issue of data centers in the county, where multiple municipalities have enacted moratoriums or bans. The county is preparing to issue an RFP to hire a consultant for a comprehensive study on data center impacts, including environmental, infrastructure, and community considerations, with a budget estimated around $250,000 to $300,000 plus additional funds for municipal technical assistance. The study aims to provide municipalities with consistent review criteria and policy recommendations to guide future data center development. Public outreach and coordination with state efforts were emphasized as important components of the study process. No votes or motions were explicitly recorded in the transcript, but the committee expressed support for the funding plans and the data center study initiative.