# 10/27/26 | Hutchinson, KS, | Planning Commission Meeting

The City of Hutchinson Planning Commission met on October 27, 2026, to review draft permanent zoning regulations for data centers. Commissioners discussed definitions and siting rules, including a provisional 20% floor-area threshold for accessory data processing and a 100,000-square-foot threshold for large data centers. The discussion favored allowing data centers in the two designated industrial parks by right if they meet the regulations, while requiring conditional-use review for standalone data centers elsewhere in permitted industrial zones. No regulations were adopted or voted on; a public hearing is scheduled for November 10, with City Council consideration anticipated in December. The commission also approved the October 13 meeting minutes and voted to adjourn.

The draft addresses cooling efficiency, wastewater discharge, water-use limits and monitoring, noise and generator testing, screening, emergency response, and decommissioning. Commissioners requested stronger Fire Department approval and response provisions, more detail on water-use enforcement and reporting, and further information from utility staff; a proposed limit of 5,000 cubic feet of water per month was discussed as a placeholder pending further review. Public commenters raised concerns about environmental impacts, emergency-response training costs, notification, and the potential for businesses to work around accessory-use limits. No contract awards, purchasing decisions, or procurement spending were identified.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 27, 2026

### Sources
- [10/27/26 | Hutchinson, KS, | Planning Commission Meeting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pK6OQuWTIk) - City Of Hutchinson