The Parish Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday establishing the parish’s first zoning regulations for data centers. The ordinance allows data centers in M-1 and M-2 industrial districts if they meet the zoning standards required in the ordinance.
The ordinance also adds a formal definition for data centers to the parish zoning code and establishes requirements related to setbacks, landscaping, buffering, equipment screening and noise.
The measure comes after weeks of discussion by parish officials, the legislative committee and the Department of Planning and Zoning. It also comes less than two months after the council rejected a proposed eight-month moratorium on new data centers.
Planning and Zoning Director Michael Albert said the parish began drafting the regulations after discovering that data centers were not specifically addressed in the existing zoning ordinance.
“A number of months back, we identified that there was effectively a hole in the ordinance with regards to these uses,” Albert said. “If one of these developments were to come to the parish now, there was really no zoning restrictions on them.”
He described the ordinance as a good first step toward properly regulating the industry.
The ordinance defines a data center as a facility or campus primarily used for the processing, storage, retrieval or communication of data. Data centers that rely on onsite power generation during normal operations are limited to M-2 heavy industrial districts. Data centers in M-1 light industrial districts may use emergency or backup generators but cannot operate with onsite primary power generation as their regular source of electricity.
The ordinance also establishes a 300 feet buffer zone from residential zoning districts, schools, day cares, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and parks and requires that developers install a 25-foot landscape buffer when a data center is adjacent to residential areas, schools, nursing homes or parks.
The new regulations limit noise generated by data centers to 55 decibels when measured at property lines adjacent to residential and other noise-sensitive areas. Testing of backup generators would be restricted to weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Councilwoman Michelle O’Daniels said the best way to protect the public is to regulate the noise from data centers.
“We believe that there’s insulation and construction methods and other ways to prevent noise from impeding on people enjoying their homes,” she said. “We probably have some more work to do in the noise ordinance area, but I think this is a good start to be protective to the residents.”
Parish President Matthew Jewell said technological advances are helping address some of the concerns raised about data centers, including water consumption and noise. He noted that newer facilities are using cooling systems that require significantly less water than older designs.
“I think [the ordinance] is a good start,” Jewell said. “The industry is also adapting to some of the complaints that people are seeing.”
Supporters of the ordinance argued that establishing regulations now provides clarity for both residents and potential developers.
Michelle Bourg, vice president of business and economic development for Entergy Louisiana, told council members that project developers and tech companies are contacting Entergy with interest to build in the state.
“Having these rules of engagement established here in St. Charles Parish provides a very positive signal to potential developers that St. Charles Parish is open for investment, and I certainly applaud this council and the administration for being proactive in this space,” she said.
River Region Chamber of Commerce Chairman Flo Dumas also supported the measure, describing data centers as critical infrastructure for the modern economy.
“Our economy is changing,” she said. “These projects bring significant private investments and create economic opportunities for local businesses and skilled workers.”
Before the vote, Councilwoman Holly Fonseca asked whether any developers had approached the parish about building a data center. Albert responded that no applications, inquiries or formal requests had been submitted.
During the public hearing, Hahnville resident Milton Allemand urged council members to delay action and adopt a moratorium until additional research could be conducted on the industry’s potential impacts.
“We don’t know enough about this industry to know if any of this makes sense,” Allemand said. “We need to get this right because once it’s in, it’s in.”