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Johnson County is under a one-year moratorium on data center approvals, set to expire on November 8. The county is updating zoning processes to address concerns over location, water usage, and size. An updated draft ordinance will clarify data center definitions and propose regulations on water usage, including regular reports and efficiency standards.

The Board of Supervisors is also considering limiting data center sizes and banning non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in development. Any new policy would require updates to existing ordinances. The board may implement a special permit process for data center plans, involving public hearings.

Economic impacts of new data centers will also be evaluated. Other Iowa counties, such as Clarke and Linn, are also reviewing their zoning regulations for data center development.