Residents Raise Water and Setback Concerns at Dickinson County Data Center Hearing

Several residents spoke during public comment at the Dickinson County Planning Commission's Oct. 15 meeting on potential data center regulations, raising concerns about setbacks, water usage and the value of relying on other counties' rules.

Resident Ken King thanked the commission for "asking the right questions" and said he wanted to emphasize setback distances. He argued that a 1,000-foot setback "is not very far from the country," noting the local landscape lacks the trees and hills found in eastern areas. "A thousand feet is just nothing," he said, adding that a facility could still be heard and seen at night. He also pointed to concerns about the amount of water such facilities require.

Another resident, speaking from south of a county road, urged staff to bring in experts from state agencies to answer broader and more specific questions rather than adopting provisions from other jurisdictions.

A resident identified as Dan asked whether any data centers had been approved or proposed in the area. Staff said one nearby city is investigating the possibility of acquiring additional land adjacent to its airport as a feasibility study, but that nothing had been formally submitted. Staff said they were not aware of any proposed data centers in Dickinson County, noting most projects they are investigating are located farther east or closer to Wichita.