City of Menomonie
Anti-Data Center Policies
Menomonie’s enacted ordinance allows data centers in a designated district, but requires rezoning, public hearings, City Council approval, and 400-foot setbacks on all sides, limiting suitable sites.
current law · City of MenomonieEstablishes the I-4 Data Center Industrial District and revises Menomonie’s zoning treatment of data centers by separating them from warehousing.City of Menomonie Ordinance 2026-01 (2026)
What this means
The measure creates a district where data centers can be built, but it removes them from the warehousing definition and requires land to be rezoned, with public hearings and City Council approval. The [400-foot setbacks on all sides](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/menomoniewi/latest/menomonie_wi/0-0-0-14207#:~:text=four%20hundred%20feet%20(400%27) make suitable sites harder to find, so the new pathway comes with significant barriers.
People behind it
- City Staff
Prepared Proposed Ordinance 2026-01 creating the I-4 Data Center Industrial District.
- David Schofield
Director of Public Works who presented and administered the proposed ordinance for City Staff.
- Larry Konopacki
Attorney who assisted City Staff in preparing Proposed Ordinance 2026-01.
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- City Council
Introduced, considered, and adopted Ordinance 2026-01.
- Plan Commission
Reviewed Proposed Ordinance 2026-01 and recommended its approval.
- Brennan
Moved to conduct the first reading of Proposed Ordinance 2026-01.
- Erdman
Seconded the first-reading motion and moved to waive the second reading of Proposed Ordinance 2026-01.
- Solberg
Moved for adoption of Ordinance 2026-01.
- Schwebs
Seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance 2026-01.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements8
Data centers are removed from the definition of “warehousing” and separately defined as a distinct use, so they are no longer authorized merely under zoning provisions that permit warehousing. The ordinance creates a separate “Data Center” definition
A data center may operate in the I-4 Data Center Industrial District only as an expressly permitted use; buildings or premises may not be erected, converted, enlarged, moved, or structurally altered for an unlisted use. The I-4 permitted-use rule
No land was zoned I-4 when the ordinance was adopted. Any property intended for a data center would therefore require rezoning to I-4, with public notice, a public hearing, and City Council action. No lands are currently zoned Data Center Industrial (I-4)
Any modification of the I-4 district would require public notice, public hearings, and City Council action. Any modification of the Data Center Industrial (I-4) District would require public notice
I-4 buildings are limited to 45 feet or three stories, whichever is less. Height: Forty five feet (45') or three (3) stories, whichever is least
I-4 development must provide 400-foot front, side, and rear setbacks. Front Yard Setback and side and rear yard setbacks
I-4 development must comply with the code’s lot-area, vision-clearance, and off-street-parking requirements, incorporating the standards referenced in Sections 14-4-7, 10-4-5G, and 10-4-7. Referenced lot area, vision clearance, and parking requirements
The I-4 district strictly prohibits ammunition manufacture, storage or warehousing; automobile wrecking yards; explosives manufacture, storage or warehousing; fireworks manufacture, storage or warehousing; inflammable-gas or inflammable-liquid manufacture, storage or warehousing except in conjunction with airport operations; and junkyards. The strictly prohibited uses
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions6
The I-4 district expressly permits a standalone “Data Center” use, providing a specific zoning category for data-center development rather than relying on the prior warehousing definition. Data Center
I-4 districts also allow any use permitted in a commercial district, expanding the range of complementary commercial activities that may operate at a data-center site. Any use permitted in any commercial district
I-4 districts allow any use permitted in the restricted industrial district, allowing data-center sites to use the broader set of industrial activities authorized in that district. Any use permitted in the restricted industrial district
Uses customarily incidental to the permitted uses, along with accessory buildings and structures, are allowed in the I-4 district, supporting related facilities and site operations. Uses customarily incidental
The measure establishes a defined regulatory classification for data centers based on their storage, management, processing, and transmission of digital data and associated computer equipment, which clarifies what facilities qualify for the I-4 use. DATA CENTER means establishments
Changes to the I-4 district and rezoning property into it require public notice, public hearings, and City Council action, creating a procedural safeguard against unilateral zoning changes; however, the process does not prevent future amendments or rezonings. Any modification of the Data Center Industrial (I-4) District would require public notice, public hearings and City Council action
Sources
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