| PHASE 9 - ORDINANCE FRAMEWORK |
| ☐ 1. PURPOSE | ☐ 2. DEFINITIONS | ☐ 3. APPLICABILITY | ☐ 4. ZONING | ☐ 5. SITING STANDARDS | ☐ 6. ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS |
| ☐ Clearly define why the ordinance exists.
☐ Protect health, safety, welfare, land, and future generations. | ☐ Avoid ambiguity. Examples:
☐ Data Center
☐ Hyperscale
☐ Campus
☐ Expansion
☐ Backup Generator
☐ Cooling Facility
☐ Battery Storage
☐ Utility Infrastructure
☐ Sensitive Receptor
☐ Prime Farmland
☐ Critical Habitat | ☐ When permit required
☐ Campus expansions
☐ Utility upgrades
☐ Accessory uses
☐ Temporary facilities | ☐ Conditional Use only.
☐ Never permitted by right. | ☐ Minimum acreage
☐ Maximum footprint
☐ Maximum impervious coverage
☐ Building height
☐ Setbacks
☐ Buffers
☐ Road frontage
☐ Visual screening
☐ Landscaping
☐ Agricultural compatibility | ☐ Noise
☐ Lighting
☐ Heat
☐ Air emissions
☐ Stormwater
☐ Water conservation
☐ Wetlands
☐ Groundwater
☐ Tree preservation
☐ Dust |
| ☐ 7. INFRASTRUCTURE | ☐ 8. OPERATIONAL STANDARDS | ☐ 9. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS | ☐ 10. MONITORING | ☐ 11. FINANCIAL ASSURANCE | ☐ 12. ENFORCEMENT |
| ☐ Road improvements
☐ Bridge improvements
☐ Traffic control
☐ Utility upgrades
☐ Fiber
☐ Power
☐ Water
☐ Wastewater | ☐ Emergency plans
☐ Hazardous materials
☐ Generator testing
☐ Battery storage
☐ Maintenance
☐ Snow removal
☐ Security | ☐ Maximum decibel levels
☐ Maximum light spill
☐ Maximum water consumption
☐ Maximum emissions
☐ Maximum vibration
☐ Annual reporting | ☐ Annual inspections
☐ Independent audits
☐ Water monitoring
☐ Noise testing
☐ Lighting verification
☐ Air monitoring | ☐ Road bond
☐ Stormwater bond
☐ Landscaping bond
☐ Decommissioning bond
☐ Utility restoration bond
☐ Environmental cleanup bond | ☐ Inspections
☐ Violations
☐ Civil penalties
☐ Permit suspension
☐ Permit revocation
☐ Injunction authority |
| ☐ 13. DECOMMISSIONING |
| ☐ Timeline | ☐ Equipment removal | ☐ Foundation removal | ☐ Utility removal | ☐ Soil restoration | ☐ Agricultural restoration
☐ Bond release only
after completion |
This structure ensures the ordinance is clear, enforceable, and aligned with county goals, while providing strong public involvement and accountability.
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# DUBUQUE COUNTY
# DATA CENTER ORDINANCE DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP
A CLEAR PROCESS. PROTECTING LAND. SERVING PEOPLE. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
| 1 | Comprehensive Plan | Consistent with adopted county plans. |
| 2 | Site Suitability | Outside exclusion areas or meets strict exceptions. |
| 3 | Infrastructure | Capacity exists or upgrades are fully funded by developers. |
| 4 | Environmental Protection | Independent studies demonstrate compliance. |
| 5 | Fiscal Neutrality | Public costs fully covered and long-term benefits demonstrated. |
| 6 | Community Compatibility | Noise, lighting, traffic, visual impacts meet standards. |
| 7 | Financial Assurance | Bonds and guarantees in place before construction. |
| 8 | Public Interest | Board finds project advances public health, safety, and welfare. |
