Peosta creates citizen data center committee; applications open through Nov. 30

Peosta residents will soon be able to help draft the city's data center ordinance. According to the Dyersville Commercial, the Peosta City Council voted 4-0 on Tuesday to create an ad hoc citizen data center committee, and is accepting applications through the end of November. "The idea here is to get the best ordinance we can get," said Peosta Mayor Russ Pfab. City leaders are working to draft a data center ordinance after enacting a six-month moratorium in June and later extending it another six months, with an end date of June 18, 2027. During the pause, Peosta cannot approve a building permit, zoning approval, site plan approval, subdivision approval, utility connection approval, certificate of occupancy or other city approval for a data center project. A developer expressed interest in building a data center in Peosta in August. The committee will consist of two council members appointed by Pfab and five community members appointed by the council. The most debated topic was residence requirements. Council Member John Kraft said the committee should prioritize Peosta residents, while other council members wanted looser rules so Dubuque County residents with particular expertise could take part. Council member Jeff Buxton was absent but submitted written comments in favor of creating the committee, noting a hyperscale data center could affect residents outside city limits. The resolution was tweaked to give preference to Peosta residents. If the committee cannot be filled, secondary preference goes to those living within 2 miles of city limits. Applicants from more than 2 miles out may be given consideration pending expertise, the resolution states. The council will allow the committee to set its own meeting dates, but requires it to meet at least once a month. "I also think there's some urgency for us to make it through the moratorium period," Council Member Brian Schatz said. "What if the committee says, 'We'll just meet once every three months?' That's not acceptable to what we're trying to accomplish as a city." Committee applications will close Nov. 30. The City Council will appoint members at its Dec. 8 meeting, with the committee first meeting on Dec. 16. The application is available at tinyurl.com/peostacommittee. REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN)