Over the past two months, the Planning Commission and City Council have held joint workshops to further review the proposed city ordinance for data centers and technology campuses in Monticello. These sessions followed public hearings in August and September and focused on incorporating public feedback on the previous draft ordinance into a new draft.
Earlier in 2025, the City reviewed the Monticello 2040 Vision Plan related to data center land uses. The Monticello 2040 Vision Plan was amended to allow data centers only in Light Industrial Park (LIP) areas. It requires a review of site impacts, utility and electric service demands, and assurance that any specific development project will not limit the City’s future growth.
While the comprehensive plan provides broad guidance for land use policy, it is the zoning ordinance and other City codes that are the regulatory tools used to implement the land use policy.
At the November 10 joint workshop, officials reviewed the latest draft of the ordinance, which now includes feedback from the public, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. Meeting materials are available online.
The ordinance would require a data center proposal to apply for a rezoning to a Data Center Planned Unit District (DCPUD). A DCPUD includes standards for items such as utilities, building height and setbacks, noise and lighting, landscaping and screening, and other requirements. These requirements help the City to evaluate and manage the potential impacts of any future development application. Developers will be responsible for providing detailed information during the application review process specific to each project.
The Planning Commission has called for a public hearing on the revised ordinance for December 2, 2025.
As a reminder, the ordinance does not approve any specific project. Instead, it sets the rules and review process the City will use to evaluate any future data center development applications that may be received. If adopted, all data center projects will be subject to the City’s formal land use review process, including submission of a detailed application and review for compliance with City ordinances and regulations.
Prior to the December 2 public hearing, City staff will host an informal question and answer session on the data center ordinance on November 20, from 3:30 - 6 p.m., in the Academy Room of the Monticello City Hall.
Additional Resources: