Hancock County, IN - 7/27/2026 Special Meeting - Citizens' Committee on Data Center Siting

The Hancock County Citizens' Committee on Data Center Siting held a special meeting on July 27, 2026, to discuss and develop recommendations for the county's overlay ordinance regulating data center development. The committee reviewed a comprehensive summary of prior discussions and a detailed list of questions intended to guide the planning commission and board of commissioners in evaluating data center proposals. Key procurement-related topics included the process for data center project approvals, zoning overlays, public hearings, and the potential use of Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) as a planning tool. The committee emphasized the need for transparency, detailed submission requirements such as letters of intent, and ongoing operational reporting from data center developers. They also discussed the importance of including development guidelines addressing utility usage, environmental impacts, and enforceable commitments within the overlay ordinance. The meeting concluded with plans to refine the draft recommendations and submit them to the planning commission and commissioners for further consideration, aiming to balance regulatory oversight with flexibility to accommodate evolving technology and community interests.