During public comment, residents and technical speakers urged the commission to require upfront decommissioning bonds, baseline resource monitoring, strict water‑use limits, and legal safeguards (against NDAs and unchecked tax abatements) for prospective data centers.

Planning staff presented draft zoning standards that define three data‑center classes (small accessory, mid‑size, hyperscale), propose size and power thresholds, setbacks from dwellings and schools, and require development agreements and benefit agreements for larger facilities; staff plans code language for October and a public hearing Nov. 18.

The Whitley County Planning Commission unanimously recommended a one‑year moratorium — or until new standards are adopted — on issuance of permits for data centers, with limited exceptions for accessory on‑site systems and telecommunications headends; the recommendation goes to the county commissioners for final action.

Planning staff presented a detailed draft approach to regulate data centers, proposing classification by power (megawatts) supplemented with building/acreage standards and performance rules for noise, water use, generator storage and decommissioning; commissioners gave input and staff set an October target for a public review draft.

The Whitley County Board of Commissioners voted July 6 to direct the planning commission to prepare an ordinance imposing a one-year moratorium on large data-center development while the county and planning commission draft zoning rules; commissioners said the moratorium should not impede ordinary business "micro" data operations.

Dozens of residents urged the planning commission June 24 to adopt a moratorium or ban on hyperscale data centers, warning of groundwater depletion, noise that can affect livestock and diesel generator emissions; speakers also demanded transparency (no NDAs) and opposed tax abatements.

The planning commission held a public listening session June 24 to solicit community input as staff begins drafting zoning rules for data centers; no applications exist yet and staff proposes July drafting, an August public hearing and commission action by fall.

Planning staff proposed classifying data centers by size and use (accessory vs. primary), highlighted performance concerns (utilities, generator noise, parking, low employment), and recommended an early public "listening session" June 24 followed by code drafting and an August public hearing.