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 si...
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