Hutchinson planners set Tuesday hearing on data center rules capping water use and noise
Owners of the largest facilities would have to post financial assurance covering 125% of cleanup costs
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Sign up freeHutchinson data centers would face water and noise limits, and the largest could locate only in two industrial parks, under permanent zoning rules facing a Planning Commission public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 10.
City staff recommends approval. The commission will vote on whether to send the rules to the City Council for approval, with or without changes, or to recommend denial.
Minutes from the commission's Oct. 27 meeting say council review would come Dec. 1, pending a full five-member council.
Under the draft, every standalone data center would be capped at 5,000 hundred cubic feet of water a month from all sources, including private wells, counted across its whole campus. Open-loop evaporative cooling could not serve as a center's main cooling method. Each center would need City-approved water meters and a water management plan, with the largest filing annual water use and discharge reports.
Noise at the property line could not exceed 60 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 50 decibels overnight. Routine generator testing would be limited to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays other than federal holidays, and large centers would need acoustical studies before and after construction.
The two parks are the Kansas Enterprise and Kimbell industrial parks. There, centers with a combined footprint of 100,000 square feet or more, counting equipment, generators, substations and planned phases, would be limited to I-3 zoning.
Smaller centers could go in other industrial districts, and micro centers under 5,000 square feet and 250 kilowatts could also go in some commercial districts. Small centers outside the two parks would need a conditional use permit, a case-by-case approval from the city.
Before getting a building permit, owners of the largest centers would post a bond, letter of credit or escrow equal to 125% of estimated decommissioning and site restoration costs, reviewed at least every five years. A center idle for 12 straight months would be considered abandoned, giving its owner 12 months to decommission.
Before getting a building permit, every standalone center would also need written confirmation that the electric utility has evaluated its power demand. Each would also need a Hutchinson Fire Department-approved emergency response plan before it opens.
Staff began developing the permanent rules June 23, and an Aug. 12 open house drew more than 120 people, according to the staff report. The commission gave direction Oct. 13 and reviewed a draft Oct. 27.
At that review, according to the minutes, Karen Drake of 1906 E. Trail West Road, who said she lives next to the Kimbell site, raised concerns about water leaks, fire department training and notification. She said she supports a conditional use permit requirement as a protection.
Lydia Rostine of 1300 N. Hendricks raised concerns about toxins, fumes and contamination.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 123 E. Avenue B, and public comments are limited to five minutes.
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