Data Center Moratorium Update
Baumel started a presentation and Ernest finished, followed by questions and comments from members.
The proposed sizes to allow in Madison are as follows:
Small - 0 to 10,000 sf
Medium - 10,000 to 50,000 sf
Large - 50,000 to 100,000 sf
Small data centers would be allowed in all zoning districts, medium only in the campus district, employment districts (except TE), and industrial districts, and large only in industrial districts.
Liggon asked for details on the city and state building codes. Ernest answered that the City enforces the State of Wisconsin building code. The City cannot require more or less than what the code requires.
Zhang asked for clarification on how the process would work if someone applies and meets all the criteria of the proposal. Ernest answered that if an entity applied and met all City code and the supplemental regulations then they would be able to construct the building.
Harris commented that he doesn't see an issue with a large (ex. 300,000 sf) center that is vertical instead of taking up a large amount of land and also if a center is in an industrial area, far enough from residential, then why not more than one on a piece of property. Harris also commented on the ground floor issue stating that if they were not street facing then that could be considered an option and also asked about existing businesses being grandfathered in and if they want to grow to add a parcel or a floor to keep businesses in Madison. Ernest commented that existing data centers already meet the proposal, at least in terms of zoning and also that if an existing business were to consider a data center they would need to comply with the ordinance.
Liggon asked if the proposed areas for data centers overlap with TIF districts and Ernest will work with Economic Development to get an answer.
Bulgrin asked why only one data center on a lot, even if the multiple centers are less sf than allowed. Bulgrin also asked if the U.W would also be regulated by these zoning ordinances and how past data centers were regulated or more so what is the difference between telecommunication centers and data centers. Lastly, Bulgrin asked how future township annexations will affect these plans. Bulgrin left at 6:33, after asking the questions. Ernest stated that the issues around multiple centers on a property could be brought to the bigger planning team to discuss, the U.W would be subject to these rules and that there is communication between the City and the U.W around this proposal, what has happened in the past is if an entity came in for a permit and there are a lot of servers then the City would have called them telecommunication centers which is a term that has been in code for a long time, and finally that Planning will look more into future annexations.
Liggon asked if the City could provide health statistics of people living near data centers.
Updated 10.30.2026 4:25:42 PM UTC