On the agenda: Pekin Minutes — Data Center (Sep 9)

DRAFT COPY - SUBJECT TO COMMITTEE APPROVAL
BOARD:

TAZEWELL COUNTY

COMMITTEE:

LAND USE

DATE/TIME:

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, immediately following the Property, Finance,
Human Resources meetings which are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

PRESENT:

Chairman K. Russell Crawford, Eugene Glueck, Vice Chairman Jon Hopkins
(arrived at 5:26), Greg Longfellow, Eric Schmidgall, Eric Stahl and Joe Woodrow.

ABSENT:

Jay Hall and Greg Sinn (via telephone)

STAFF PRESENT:

Jaclynn Workman, Community Development Administrator; Melissa Kreiter, Chief
Deputy Administrator; and Matt Drake, Assistant States Attorney

OTHERS PRESENT:

Steve Stein, Barbara Hahn, Benjamin Koch, County Administrator Mindy Darcy,
County Board Member Catherine Stump, and other interested parties

CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Crawford called the meeting to Order at 5:02 p.m.

MINUTES:

Moved by Schmidgall, seconded by Gluek to approve the August 11, 2026
minutes. On voice vote, motion declared carried.
Moved by Stahl, seconded by Schmidgall to approve the August 18, 2026 Land
Use minutes. On voice vote, motion declared carried.

CHAIRMAN
INSTRUCTIONS:
PUBLIC COMMENT:
CASES:
LU-26-11, Case 26-36-Z
Gary Smith

Chairman Crawford gave introductions and an overview of the procedures and how
the meeting would be conducted.
None.
The petition of Gary Smith for a Map Amendment to change the official zoning
maps of Washington Township from an A-1 Agriculture Preservation District to a
R-R Rural Residential District.
Administrator Workman stated the Rezoning was being requested to create one
new lot and the rezoning was not intended to create a multi-lot new subdivision.
Following discussion, moved by Longfellow, seconded by Glueck to recommend
approval of LU-26-11, Case No. 26-36-Z to the Tazewell County Board. On voice
vote, motion declared carried.

RESOLUTIONS:
LU-26-12, Subdivision
Administrator Workman presented a Subdivision Modification (a/k/a Road Waiver)
Modification, Benjamin Koch to the committee from Benjamin Koch. Ms. Workman stated this resolution was
intended to divide the land how it was originally, prior to the various lots being
combined. Ms. Workman said there was one new dwelling proposed to be
constructed, leaving 2 dwellings accessed by private easement.

Following discussion, moved by Stahl, seconded by Glueck to recommend
approval of LU-26-12 to the Tazewell County Bord.
On voice vote, motion declared carried.
DISCUSSION:
Proposed Amendment 78,
Data Center Moratorium

Administrator Workman stated Member Eric Stahl requested verbiage for a
proposed Amendment to the Zoning Code be drafted to allow a 6 month
moratorium on Data Centers. Ms. Workman said any proposed Amendment
would have to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a public hearing.
Member Eric Stahl stated the proposed Amendment was based on the language
from Woodford County’s moratorium. Mr. Stahl said there were several hoops
that would have to be jumped through before a moratorium could be passed, such
as the public hearing at ZBA. Mr. Stahl added the moratorium would ensure no
applications for data centers could be accepted and allow time for the committee
to draft language for an ordinance governing data centers.
Member Goddard stated that a moratorium would chase away any potential
developers, and he did not understand the fear surrounding data centers.
Chairman Crawford stated the current language in the Zoning Code to prohibit
uses not explicitly mentioned was sufficient and a moratorium was not needed and
expressed his disappointment in the committee for seeking a moratorium.
Administrator Workman stated any applications for data centers could not be
accepted under the current language in the code, and if a moratorium were in
place, it could be rescinded at any time.
Member Woodrow stated passing a moratorium may be redoing what was already
done, but the use of the word moratorium would give peace of mind to the public.
Member Stahl stated the committee is not intended follow the desires of the
chairman and that when he tried to discuss a moratorium at the previous meeting
he was shut down and no further discussion was allowed. Mr. Stahl said a
moratorium allowed time to develop a thorough ordinance to protect the public
interest.
Administrator Workman questioned if the previous language established to prohibit
uses should be changed back to the prior “analogous” language.
Member Schmidgall stated the previous language should be left in the ordinance.
Member Glueck stated the previous language would be left to make certain the
county was safe from any intrusive request.
Chairman Crawford stated he felt the committee had done a great job on drafting
wording for the Renewable Energy Ordinance and that no other county had done
this. Mr. Crawford said he would like to do the same thing with the data center
ordinance and create a model ordinance. Mr. Crawford added there was a lot of
emotion tied to zoning requests and he allowed citizens to open up regarding their
concerns in the prior meeting. Mr. Crawford stated that he has created a task
force to work on a draft ordinance and that the Community Development
Administrator would chair this task force as well as having several committee
members and other subject matter experts involving data center topics. Mr.

Crawford said he wanted the proposed ordinance done right and he felt a task
force would be beneficial.
Assistant States Attorney Drake stated that the data center issue is different from
the Wind and Solar issues as the State of Illinois has not passed a law with
requirements that a county must abide by. Attorney Drake said that the inability to
pass a moratorium in Logan County was a different issue as they did not appear
to follow proper procedure in doing so.
Administrator Workman said any moratorium would be temporary until such time
as an ordinance was passed and if more time was needed, the moratorium could
be extended.
Member Sinn appeared via telephone and stated that a 9-month moratorium
should be in place in order to allow new board members to be brought up to speed
on items to be discussed.
Member Woodrow stated 12 other Illinois counties currently have a moratorium on
data centers.
Administrator Workman stated her agreement with Member Sinn regarding a 9month moratorium.
Chairman Crawford stated that after further consideration and listening to the
community and the committee concerns, he would be in favor of a moratorium.
The consensus of the committee was to send Proposed Amendment 78 to the
Zoning Board of Appeals for a public hearing.
This item was for discussion purposes only and no action was taken.
NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting of the Land Use Committee will be held on Tuesday, October
13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

RECESS:

There being no further business, the meeting recessed at 6:41 p.m.
Jaclynn Workman, Secretary
(Transcribed by Melissa Kreiter, Chief Deputy)