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Two very different topics are vying for my attention right now, so I'm going to write about both: the Iowa Data Center Decision Tool, developed at the University of Iowa, and the meeting of the Marshall County Supervisors that I attended on Wednesday morning.
My website (getyourdatahere.org) contains links to both these topics, but you can also get to the Decision Tool at heli.law.uiowa.edu/projects/datacentersiniowa. As for the Marshall County Supervisors, their meeting agendas and minutes can be found at marshallcountyia.gov/AgendaCenter.
Back to the Iowa Data Center Decision Tool... I hope that the Marshalltown Planning & Zoning Commission will take advantage of these wide-ranging and thoughtful discussion questions for determining what is important to the community when it comes to data center development in town.
In its own words,
The Iowa Data Center Decision Tool for Counties, Cities, Communities is a resource developed by and for Iowans to help local communities identify important questions and determine whether data center development aligns with their priorities before engaging with developers--or, if discussions have already begun, before making significant decisions.
By providing an objective framework and practical questions, the Decision Tool helps communities prepare for future data center conversations before decisions, negotiations, or development proposals move forward.
Now is the time for the Commission to use all the tools at their disposal to increase communication and gather good and useful ideas.
When it is finally passed, Ordinance 15123 will officially create a temporary four-month moratorium on data center development. The Commission, however, is working to develop the long-term data center zoning regulations that will affect the community well into the future. To do that, the Commission should take advantage of every possible way to do it well.
If you are going to attend the P&Z Commission meeting tonight, starting at 5 p.m. at 10 State St. (and I hope you are), please take a moment to look at the Iowa Date Center Decision Tool before you get there. Details about tonight's Work Session can be found at marshalltownia.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3226/files/attachment/12217.
As for the Marshall County Supervisors' meeting on Wednesday morning… Tyler Kelley, the county's Zoning Administrator, announced that there will be a Zoning Commission meeting that will include discussion of and possible action on a temporary six-month moratorium on data center development in the County on Aug. 27, starting at 10 a.m., in Meeting Room 1 at the Marshall County Courthouse.
Whether or not you live in the county, you should plan on attending this meeting if you are interested in this topic. It will be your best opportunity to get accurate information about what is being discussed and what plans are being made to develop thoughtful and thorough regulations to preserve the County and its people and land.
One recent topic of special interest is the "Marshall County Data Center" listing by SVN | CREATE Commercial Real Estate Advisors from West Des Moines that showed 34 parcels between the eastern edge of Marshalltown and Shady Oaks Road, available for development as a data center. (Visit getyourdatahere.org to see the map, using the button on the home page.)
County residents in that area are understandably concerned about the prospects of either a data center development or annexation by Marshalltown. I can't tell you anything about the possible development, but I can tell you that attending meetings and learning all you can, while expressing your own thoughts with care and coherence, is your best way to make a difference.
I can also tell you that there is one bit of the Iowa Code that bars cities from involuntarily annexing county land. The Code of Iowa, Section 368.17, specifically states that a city cannot annex county land if the purpose is solely to increase revenues for the city. (iowaleague.org/resource/involuntary-annexation/)
That could be a good bit of the Code for the County Supervisors to keep in mind during these discussions of data center development along Shady Oaks. Marshalltown has not seemed particularly interested in the area between it and Quarry otherwise, so a sudden surge of annexation fever might be suspect right now.
And with that, I will remind you that the Planning & Zoning Commission meets tonight at 5 in the Council Chambers upstairs at 10 State St. I hope to see you there!
Annie Grieshop has lived in rural Marshall County for nearly 20 years. Having spent decades working as an historian of technology as well as for multiple technology companies (including 7 years in platform security at Microsoft), her involvement with many parts of technology and public policy is wide-ranging.