WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Tuesday’s upcoming Bowling Green City Commission meeting surrounding data centers
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – As discussion surrounding data centers continues across southcentral Kentucky, Bowling Green city leaders are expected to revisit the topic Tuesday night… but not in the way some residents may expect.
Following last week’s lengthy discussion surrounding data center development, misconceptions have circulated online that commissioners will again debate a moratorium or additional delay on future data center projects during the Tuesday, June 16 meeting.
However, News 40 spoke with City Manager Jeff Meisel, who confirmed another moratorium discussion is not expected to occur Tuesday.
Instead, commissioners are scheduled to consider the second reading of a proposed zoning ordinance that would establish regulations and development standards for future data centers within city limits.
According to the meeting agenda, Ordinance No. BG2026-6 — an ordinance amending the city’s zoning ordinance — is listed as Item No. 25 under “Ordinances” and will receive its second reading, which is a binding vote. The ordinance amends Articles 3, 4, 5 and 8 and adds Appendix C to the Bowling Green Zoning Ordinance, as recommended by the City-County Planning Commission.
June 16 Bowling Green City Commission Agenda
Last week, commissioners voted 3-2 against Municipal Order 2026-134, which would have created a six-month due diligence period on data center applications, zoning amendments, permits and related requests.
Commissioners Dana Beasley Brown and Carlos Bailey supported the proposal, while Mayor Todd Alcott and Commissioners Sue Parrigin and Melinda Hill opposed it.
That vote concluded action on the proposed due diligence period and no additional consideration of that municipal order is currently scheduled.
This upcoming Tuesday’s discussion instead centers on Ordinance BG2026-6, which received unanimous first-reading approval and would amend Bowling Green’s zoning ordinance to create regulations specifically governing data centers.
If ultimately adopted, the ordinance would formally define data centers in the city’s zoning code and establish requirements related to setbacks, utility capacity, infrastructure review, cooling systems, generator operations and decommissioning.
Among the proposed standards are requirements that developers demonstrate electric, water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure can support a project without negatively affecting existing customers. The ordinance would also require utility planning documents, establish separation distances from homes and community facilities, require closed-loop cooling systems and place the cost of infrastructure upgrades on developers.
City officials have repeatedly emphasized that approval of the ordinance would not approve a specific data center project, but instead establish rules that future proposals would have to meet.
Tuesday’s meeting will determine whether those regulations become part of Bowling Green’s zoning ordinance.
According to the City-County Planning Commission website, commissioners voted March 19 to recommend the zoning amendments to the legislative bodies of Warren County Fiscal Court and the cities of Bowling Green, Smiths Grove, Oakland, Plum Springs and Woodburn.
The new amendments will take effect as each legislative body adopts them through two readings and passage, or by June 17, 2026 unless otherwise voted down.
The Bowling Green City Commission meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at City Hall.
Also during the meeting, the commission will be discussing the second reading of adopting the annual city budget, an ordinance relating to the classification of pay schedules, and multiple municipal orders.
Meetings are typically telecast live on Government Access Channel 4 or on their Website or Facebook.
