Menomonie Seeking More Public Input on Data Center Zoning

The City of Menomonie is reminding residents they still have time to submit public comments on the future of data center zoning in the area.

The data center debate began in August when the Menomonie City Council approved annexing and rezoning land from the Town of Red Cedar for a potential data center project proposed by Balloonist LLC. Residents raised concerns about the potential health and environmental effects of the proposed facility, specifically its water and energy demands. They also expressed concerns over the effect the data center would have on nearby property values.

Just weeks later, Mayor Randy Knaack announced that planning for the facility was paused due to the pushback from community members. In January, the Menomonie City Council voted to approve a zoning ordinance change aimed at regulating data centers, giving the City more control over how and where the facilities are built.

The ordinance change creates a new zoning district specifically for data centers. Prior to the update, data centers fell under the definition of warehousing in the zoning code, and the City would have been required to accommodate the facilities as legal land uses. City officials also clarified that the zoning code change does not prohibit them from moving forward with a data center project in the future, but simply gives them more power to negotiate better terms with developers and address the concerns of community members.

The City of Menomonie is now seeking public comments on potential revisions to the new ordinance. Residents can submit their public comments online or by contacting City Hall directly. The City will accept public input until March 9th, and the Plan Commission will review that feedback when drafting possible updates. City officials are also encouraging residents to share their opinions at upcoming City Council and Plan Commission meetings.