On the agenda: Buffalo County meeting — Data Center (May 1)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE
BUFFALO COUNTY LAND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
PUBLISHED: April 16th & April 23rd, 2026
Buffalo County News.

Please be advised that the Buffalo County Land Management Committee will hold a public
hearing to consider amendments to a code of ordinances entitled "The Buffalo County
Zoning Ordinance" and "The Buffalo County Subdivision Ordinance" at 8:00 a.m. on Friday,
May 1 st , 2026 in the Third Floor County Board Room, Buffalo County Courthouse, Alma,
Wisconsin.
The proposed amendment includes adding an article to the Zoning Ordinance Ch. 9- Specific
Uses and Ch.21(2)- definitions. To Strike from Buffalo County Subdivision ordinance
Section7(2)b, section 7(3), and Section 7(4) .
No action will be taken by the County Board on this date. The County Board of Supervisors
will consider the adoption of the proposed am endments on May 18, 2026, at a regular
meeting of the County Board.
You are further notified that copies of the amendments are on file and open for public
inspection in the office of the Buffalo County Clerk and the Buffalo County Zoning
Department for a period of not less than two weeks prior to the May 8, 2026 Land
Management Committee public hearing date and Land Management Committees
consideration in accordance withs. 59.69(5)(e) Wisconsin Statutes.
Please forward all public comments to the Buffalo County Clerk's Office. Written comments
received by April 27, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. will be mailed to the Land Management Committee
members for their review prior to the public hearing. Public Comments received after that
date and time will be available to the Land Management Committee members at the public
hearing.

Abigail Soderberg
Buffalo County
Zoning Department

9.

Concrete or Asphalt Plant, Permanent.
A. Permitting. A permanent concrete or asphalt plant shall only be permitted as a conditional use
in an Industrial Zoning District and shall meet the requirements for a temporary concrete or
asphalt plant.
B. Location. A permanent concrete or asphalt plant shall be located a minimum distance of five
hundred (500) feet from all existing dwellings.

10.

Concrete or Asphalt Plant, Temporary.
A. Application. Temporary concrete or asphalt plants are permitted for up to one hundred twenty
(120) days provided the following information is submitted with the application:

1. A site plan drawn to scale, showing parcel boundaries, building/structure dimensions, and
access roads.
2. Plans for stormwater management and erosion control.
B. Criteria. Temporary concrete or asphalt plants shall be subject to the following criteria:
1. Comply with all Federal and State air quality standards. (Air permit documentation shall
be made available to the Zoning Department upon request) .
2. Conditions may be set with respect to hours of operation and ingress/egress to the
premises.
3. Temporary concrete or asphalt batch plants shall be removed from the premises within
thirty (30) days of permit expiration.
C. Extension. A permit for a temporary concrete or asphalt may be extended one time for an

additional thirty (30) days at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator.

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Data Centers
A. Data Centers will only be allowed in an industrial zoning district as a conditional use
1 Applications for such uses shall provide the following
(a) A utility coordination letter that shows proof of grid capacity and
total MW demand
(b) A water usage disclosure statement that provides annual and daily
water demand
(c) Water source (municipal vs. ground water)
(d) Cooling type shall be identified and described. including a water
discharge plan and expected water replacement intervals for closedloop or evaporative systems

(e) A natural vegetation barrier plan. A natural vegetation barrier
consisting of trees, bushes or other natural vegetation such as
evergreens that has the capability to effectively shield the site
visually. None of which shall be on the States invasive species list.
(f) An emergency operations plan detailing procedures for fire
protection, hazardous materials management, backup power
operations, and coordination with local emergency response
agencies.
(g) A decommissioning plan
(h) A construction schedule or phasing plan for build out
(i) Chemical disclosure identifying types of treatment chemicals used
onsite.
2. Data centers shall be located a minimum of 500 feet from any dwelling unit other than the
owner or operator of the establishment
3. Data centers shall be located a minimum of 100 feet from property lines
4. No data center shall produce a sound level at its property boundaries that exceeds 55
· decibels.
5. Generator testing shall only be allowed during the weekdays between 8:00 am and 5:00
pm. Exceptions to the decibel limits during the hours of 8:00 am-5:00 pm may be
authorized by the committee if determined appropriate.

12.

Domestic Fowl in the Residential District
A. Standards.
1. There shall be not more than twelve ( 12) chickens per lot.

2. The keeping of roosters is prohibited.
3. Chickens shall be provided with a covered enclosure and must be kept in the covered
enclosure or a fenced enclosure at all times.
4. The chicken closure shall be subject to setback standards normally applicable to principal
structures or dwellings.
5. Covered and fenced enclosures must be kept in a clean and odor-free manner that will not
disturb the use or enjoyment of adjacent lots.
6. Covered and fenced enclosures shall be located within the rear or side yard .
7. Covered and fenced enclosures shall not be located closer than seventy-five (75) feet to
the ordinary high water mark of any lake, stream or river.

13.

Farm Animals on Small Parcels.

Data Center: A physical facility that houses computing infrastructure, storage systems, and network
equipment to store, manage, and deliver digital data applications and associated mechanical systems
such as cooling equipment, backup power generation and water systems. This use shall not be
classified as a warehouse or distribution facility.
Day Care or Child Care Facility: For the purpose of this code a day care or child care facility shall
have the same definition as contained in §48 .65(1) Wisconsin Statutes.
Deck: A structure usually made of wood and/or synthetic materials which is accessory to a principal
structure and which has no roof covering or side walls .
Density: The number of dwelling units developed on an acre of land.
Department: Buffalo County Zoning Department.
Development: Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but not
limited to, the construction of buildings, structures or accessory structures; the construction of
additions or substantial improvements to buildings, structures or accessory structures; the placement
of building or structures; mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations;
and the storage, deposition or extraction of materials, public or private sewage disposal systems or
water supply facilities.
Development Entrance Sign : A ground sign which identifies a residential or commercial
subdivision, industrial or office park, or development with three (3) or more buildings.
Directional Sign: Any sign which solely serves to designate the location or direction of any place or
area located on the premises on which the sign is located.
Domestic Fowl: Any domestic breed of chicken, pigeon, dove, quail, turkey, duck, geese, or guinea
hen. No other species of bird shall fall under this definition_ For the purpose of this ordinance this

definition shall not be construed to include roosters or male turkeys.
Driveway: A means of vehicular access to or from a property or site containing any dwelling or
habitable structure or other principal use.
Drive-Through Facility: Any portion of a building or structure from which business is transacted, or
is capable of being transacted directly with customers located in a motor vehicle. The term "drivethru" shall also include "drive-up" and "drive-in".
Duplex: Two (2) attached dwelling units on a single lot regardless of the form of ownership of the
units .
Dwelling, Single Family: A structure or portion thereof which provides or is intended to provide
living quarters/habitation for one (1) family.
Dwelling: A structure or portion thereof which is used or intended to be used as a home, residence,
overnight sleeping place or provide living quarters for one person or two or more persons.

(2) Lot area, width, and area free of limiting conditions based on percolation
characteristics:
a. The shape of indi victual lots may render portions unusable for
installing private sewage disposal systems or providing adequate
separating distances between them and watercourse for
waterwells. Therefore, any part of a lot less than thirty (30) feet
wide shall not be used in computing the minimum lot area.
b. The subdivider shall carry out soil tests in the manner required by
S pS 3~3 Chapter II 65 , W~irristra-trve-€ crde:- Lots shall be of
the following minimum areas, widths, and shall have the specified
minimum areas free of limiting conditions to meet the
requirements of Chapter H 65, Wisconsin Administrati'v e Code. S PS 3 8' 3

To avo id problems with □ s i+ 8b □ @:lil"lt;i o n fields m1d topreree-1:--tfleh.ealth and safety , the Di vi:sion of I kaltl 1 has adopted Chapter s H
62 and H65, Wi sconsin Ad11ti11i strati vc Code, ~ hi cl , telate to ·
fWi'>'ate \Naste disposal and subdiYisi ons Rot served by-i,ttbttes-cwers, respecti ve!,-. In addition, the Division of Health has
developed subdivision guidelines as provided in Sections 236.13
(2m) and 144.025 (2)(q), Wi sconsin Statutes. Required lot width ,
area, and minimum area free of limiting conditions are determined
by percolation tests .
A minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet is required by this
ordinance for unsewered lots wi th private water supplies to
provide room for the necessary separation distances to prevent the
concentration of nutrients and pollutants in the ground water.
(3) Fill
Percolation tests and soil borings in fill shall be conducted as required by
Ghapt@r H 65 Wi sconsin Administrative Code Sp S 3S3 .
(4) Option of detailed absorption tests:
If a subdivider chooses, he may carry out detailed soil absorption field
tests on a proposed lot as provided in Chapter H 65 WisconsiR 5P5 33·3
Administr~ . The location of at least three required percolation
tests over the site of the proposed absorption field shall be accurately
recorded on the subdivision plat. An absorption field may be located on
the site of the proposed field without further tests, unless further test are
deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator or county planning
agency and if installation is within five (5) years of the initial tests.

Section 8
Procedures for Submitting a Plat
8.1 Prior to filing of an application for the approval of a preliminary plat, the
subdivider shall consult with the County Planning Agency to present his
proposed plat for review. As a part of this consultation the subdivider shall
submit a sketch of sufficient scale and reasonable accuracy indicating the
following information:
(I) The boundaries of the property being considered for sale;

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