As Park County undertakes its first comprehensive overhaul of land-use regulations in more than a decade, one question has emerged as a focal point of the discussion: whether — and how — the county should prepare for data centers.
Commissioners say no proposals are on the table, and they don't believe Park County is an obvious candidate for a large data center yet. But with the industry expanding across Wyoming, they want to ensure the county's zoning rules are ready if that changes.
"We're looking at everything from solar power to wind power and data centers," Park County Commission Chairman Scott Steward told Cowboy State Daily.
The county has spent months reorganizing its zoning classifications, updating industrial districts and revising land-use regulations. The process has included numerous public meetings.
"We've got a really big county," Commissioner Scott Mangold said. "We're trying to map it out."
Public Opposition
The statewide debate over data centers has also reached Park County, where commissioners say they've heard overwhelming opposition from residents.
"The last thing we want is to go against what people are saying," Steward said. "Everybody's 100% no."
Mangold said he believes much of that opposition stems from uncertainty about what large-scale data centers could mean for the county.
For that reason, county officials are proposing that any heavy-load electrical user, including a data center, be required to obtain a special-use permit.
That process would guarantee two rounds of public hearings — one before the Park County Planning and Zoning Commission, followed by another before county commissioners make a final decision.
"We want people to have their say," Mangold said.
Not An Ideal Location — At Least Not Yet
The proposed regulations treat data centers as large industrial developments.
Under the current draft, industrial zoning would be concentrated around Cody and Powell, where electrical infrastructure is already in place.
Mangold said Park County lacks many of the characteristics developers typically seek.
"I don't think Park County is ideal for a data center now because locations seem to be in transportation hubs where you have an interstate or railroad," he said.
Without either, transporting the massive amount of equipment needed to build a data center would be more difficult.
Steward agreed, adding that the county's existing industrial zones are generally too small to accommodate a project of that scale.
"I think in Park County we're in such a location in the state that I don't know we could substantially have one here," he said.
Planning For The Future
Even so, commissioners say they're reluctant to dismiss the possibility altogether.
Technology is changing rapidly, Steward said, and counties need to stay ahead of those changes rather than react after the fact.
"Certainly we're watching statewide to see what's going on," he said.
Steward acknowledged that even county leaders are still learning about the industry.
"A year ago I didn't know anything about data centers," he said. "I think the technology is ever-changing, but it's way too new … We've got to stay on top of it."
He added that many questions remain unanswered.
Balancing Growth And Property Rights
As currently drafted, the regulations would allow data centers only in industrial districts or on larger rural parcels zoned 20 or 35 acres.
Even then, Mangold said practical obstacles remain.
Limited electrical infrastructure, water availability and transportation access would make it difficult for a developer to build a major facility on agricultural land.
"I don't think that Park County is really attractive yet, but it doesn't mean that someone with a large plot of land couldn't make a deal with a developer," Mangold said.
At the same time, he said, county officials must balance community concerns with private property rights.
"Of course, we've got to respect personal property rights," he said. "If someone wants to talk to a data center developer, they could go ahead and do that."
Whether such a project could ultimately win approval, however, is another matter.
"It would be uphill to get a data center way out in the county," Mangold said, pointing to questions about electrical service, water and other infrastructure.
For now, commissioners and planning officials continue refining the draft regulations, with additional opportunities for public comment expected before the county adopts its updated land-use plan.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
