Laserfiche WebLink
Regular Council Meeting <br />July 27, 2026 <br />Page 3 <br />Facilities, including definitions, permitted locations, Specific Use Permit (SUP) <br />requirements, dimensional standards, buffering and screening requirements, airport and <br />glare protections, infrastructure standards, decommissioning requirements, financial <br />assurance requirements, and related development and operational standards. <br />Building Official Duke McGee said the City's current zoning ordinance did not identify <br />data centers as a defined land use nor did it establish a regulatory framework governing the <br />location, development, construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of data <br />center facilities within in the City. Mr. McGee also said this was needed to protect the City and <br />citizens. <br />Mayor Pankaj opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about <br />this item to please come forward. Scott Hommel spoke in opposition to data centers citing the <br />billions of gallons of water it would use to be able to operate. He said data centers were actually <br />surveillance centers. With no one else speaking, Mayor Pankaj closed the public hearing. <br />A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by <br />Council Member Attebury. Motion carried, 4 ayes —1 nay, with Council Member DeWitt casting <br />the dissenting vote. <br />12. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2026-026: an Ordinance <br />considering the petition of the City of Paris for amendments to Exhibit 913, Zoning <br />Ordinance, addition of § 32, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to establish <br />regulations governing Battery Energy Storage Systems, including definitions permitted <br />locations, Specific Use Permit (SUP) requirements, dimensional standards, buffering and <br />screening requirements, airport and glare protections, infrastructure standards, <br />decommissioning requirements, financial assurance requirements, and related <br />development and operational standards. <br />Building Office Duke McGee said there were already battery energy storage facilities <br />located in the City, but no regulations were established and regulations were needed to protect <br />the City and the citizens. <br />Mayor Pankaj opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about <br />this item to please come forward. Scott Hommel spoke in opposition to battery energy storage <br />systems citing fire dangers and it was better for people to put them on their roof and in parking <br />lots so as not to put toxins into the land. With no one else speaking, Mayor Pankaj closed the <br />public hearing. <br />A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Attebury and seconded by <br />Mayor Pro -Tem Savage. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. <br />13. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2026-025: an Ordinance <br />considering the petition of the City of Paris for amendments to Exhibit 913, Zoning <br />Ordinance, including repeal and replacement of § 29, Solar Farms, to establish <br />regulations governing Utility -Scale Solar Energy Facilities, including definitions, <br />