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A plan for regulating data centers was included in a zoning ordinance amendment adopted by the Minot City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The regulations limit data centers and energy conversion facilities to the heavy industry park in east Minot and require companies to obtain permits from the Minot Planning Commission, which could include stipulations, particularly related to electricity use and sewer and water use agreements, light and noise.
Doug Diedrichsen, principal planner for the city, said if a company applied for a data center now, the city's code would place it in the same category as siting a warehouse. A warehouse is allowed in any area zoned manufacturing or industrial without a public hearing or conditional use permit.
Council member Mike Blessum asked to include a tonal noise in a noise study required in the ordinance amendment for decibel-level noise.
The council approved the ordinance amendment 7-0 following a public hearing that drew no comments.
"I think we want to encourage development, but I think we want to encourage responsible development,” council member Stephan Podrygula said.