Resident presses South Hutchinson to write data center rules before its moratorium runs out

A South Hutchinson resident urged the City Council on Monday, Sept. 14, to put firm data center rules in place before the city's temporary moratorium expires. The minutes say Erin Hodgson, speaking during citizen comments, told the council she understands Hutchinson intends to bring in a data center but would like that city to keep it in its own community rather than put it on the edge of South Hutchinson.

The moratorium is a temporary halt on accepting or approving data centers — facilities housing large numbers of computer servers — while permanent regulations are written. Citizen Journal reported on Aug. 26 that the South Hutchinson moratorium was in effect with a one-year clock running.

A city council document from May 2026, when the item went to the council, indicates the city attorney recommended a six-month duration, which would run out around November 2026. The two timelines conflict. The minutes also describe no draft regulations, naming no setbacks, noise limits, water or electricity standards or zoning district under consideration.

Later in the same meeting, under governing body comments, Council President Matthew Elliott asked whether City Administrator Jeff Schenk had more data center discussions and meetings scheduled, and whether there had been more talk about visiting data centers in other cities and states. Schenk said individuals had not gotten back with him to schedule, so he would schedule the visit and go.

Citizen Journal has reported that neighboring Hutchinson has been developing permanent data center zoning regulations through a public process, including a scheduled open house on the draft rules. As of its last official update, the city's planning documentation showed no formal development application for a data center project — meaning the prospect Hodgson described is not confirmed in the public record. Nothing in the South Hutchinson minutes addresses what authority, if any, the smaller city would have over a project sited inside Hutchinson's limits near the shared boundary.

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