The City of Bloomington is proposing new regulations for data centers, with a focus on protecting neighborhoods, natural resources and public infrastructure.
The proposed rules follow months of community input, public forums and research into regulations adopted by other Illinois communities, including Aurora and McLean County.
City Manager Jeff Jurgens says the proposal reflects residents’ concerns and prioritizes transparency and Bloomington’s long-term interests.
Under the proposal, data centers occupying at least 10 acres or requiring at least 10 megawatts of power would be classified as hyperscale facilities and face stricter requirements.
Those requirements would include keeping buildings and major equipment at least 1,000 feet from residential areas and other sensitive locations, limiting noise and vibration, and restricting water use and generator operations. Developers would also have to provide independent studies examining environmental impacts, energy and water demands, and infrastructure needs.
Hyperscale facilities would only be allowed in the city’s M-2 General Manufacturing District and would require City Council approval through a special-use permit.
The proposal also calls for development agreements, community benefit agreements for hyperscale facilities, annual reporting and compliance monitoring. It would prohibit nondisclosure agreements and require plans for permanently closing and decommissioning facilities.
The proposed regulations would not automatically approve any data center project. Each development would still undergo review and require City Council consideration.
Residents will have two opportunities to comment during Bloomington Planning Commission public hearings scheduled for October 16 and November 16. Both meetings begin at 4 p.m. at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, located at 600 North East Street.
The commission will consider public testimony and possible changes before making a recommendation to the City Council.
Bloomington’s current data center moratorium expires at the end of November. The City Council is expected to consider the commission’s recommendation and possible next steps at its November 23 meeting.
More information about the proposed regulations is available through the city’s Data Center Information Hub at BloomingtonIL.gov.
