Winneshiek County IA 12-month data center moratorium (2026)

Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors, unanimous vote approving a 12-month moratorium resolution after a public hearing on Monday 2026-09-28 (Decorah Leader, published Wed 2026-09-30, says 'Monday'; Decorah News published Tue 2026-09-29). Effective upon passage. Scope: temporarily stops rezoning for data center development and issuance of permits to construct data centers while the county conducts a land-use planning study and considers zoning ordinance/comprehensive plan changes; applies only to rural (unincorporated) areas — the county's eight cities act independently (Leader). Board may end it early if the study is complete and issues addressed, or extend it if the study is not done within 12 months. P&Z Commission held its own hearing Sept. 8 (35 of 36 attendees stating a position supported a 12-month moratorium; one favored a permanent ban) and recommended unanimously; reasons included scattered M-2 industrial parcels whose rules do not address data centers and expected 2027 state legislation. expires_date left null (early-termination and extension provisions).