Title
Resolution directing the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals to conduct a public hearing on proposed text amendments to Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois, Code of Ordinances relating to defining and imposing a temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lake County.
Staff Summary
• Currently, data centers are not defined nor specifically regulated by the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances (Lake County Code), despite a growing trend of data center development nationwide.
• Effective regulation of data centers requires a full evaluation of any potential environmental and community impacts from data centers, as well as a full assessment of best practiced-based approaches to regulating data centers in light of these impacts.
• A temporary moratorium on data centers of up to 8 months would allow needed time for research into this complex land use topic.
• In accordance with PBD’s current practice for amendments, a resolution has been prepared for County Board action directing the ZBA to conduct a public hearing on proposed text amendments related to defining and imposing an 8-month temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lake County.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board adopted the Unified Development Ordinance of Lake County, Illinois on April 11, 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board incorporated the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance into the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances as Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances on February 10, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the regulations specified in Chapter 151 of the Lake County Code are being implemented and require periodic review, and revisions may be necessary to these regulations; and
WHEREAS, despite the growing trend of data center development nationwide, Lake County Code of Ordinances currently does not regulate data centers; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building and Development Department has determined the need to devote significant time to properly study and consider potential environmental and community impacts and evaluate best practice-based regulatory approaches prior to drafting regulations related to this complex land use; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building and Development Department will draft proposed amendments to the text of the Lake County Code of Ordinances defining and imposing an 8-month temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lake County and will submit such proposed amendments to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) at a public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee is of the opinion that necessary steps should be taken by the Lake County Board to initiate the public hearing process; and
WHEREAS, the state law requires a public hearing to amend the text of the Lake County Code of Ordinances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lake County Board that the ZBA is hereby directed to conduct a public hearing to consider the adoption of regulations, as proposed by the Planning, Building and Development Department, related to defining and imposing an 8-month temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lake County and other such amendments that are directly related thereto; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the ZBA is hereby directed to notify the ZBA of this action and keep a record of this Resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County Board shall keep a record of this action.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on June 9, 2026.