Mercer County Planning Commission Agenda

MERCER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA

The next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 7 p.m. C.T. at the Beulah Civic Center in Beulah ND. Chairman Eslinger is scheduled to preside over the meeting.

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

AGENDA

APPROVE MINUTES OF January 15, 2026

 

NEW BUSINESS

Resolution 5079

 

The purpose of this public hearing is to add data centers as a conditional use in the Industrial District and update ND Century Codes in the Flood Management Chapter. Changes to the following sections are proposed:

• Chapter 1, Section VIII-Definitions: Definitions added for Data Center & Digital Asset Mining
• Chapter 3, Section IV-Industrial District: Data Center listed as a conditional use
• Chapter 7, Section 1-Statutory Authorization-Requires NDCC Chapters update

 

Other Business

SRF Consulting-Ordinance Update Discussion

Sincerely,

Jen Neumiller

Mercer County Land Use Administrator

 

Enclosures:

Minutes from January 15^th, 2026

Resolution Information

IV. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT

 

Purpose -- The Industrial District is established to provide for the most practical location for industrial uses and businesses primarily engaged in providing equipment, service, supplies, sales and storage to such heavy industries as coal mines, electric power generating plants, coal gasification plants, oil production or drilling companies and road construction companies.

 

Permitted Uses --

 

A. Agriculture and related activities.

B. Railroad tracks and spurs for a permitted or conditional use within a site approved under these district regulations.

C. Transmission line and associated facilities with a design of 115 kilovolts or less.

D. Fishery facilities including hatching, growing, processing and related activities.

E. Horticulture and/or greenhouse facilities and related activities.

 

 

Conditional Uses --

 

A. Chemical fertilizer plants.

B. Coal gasification plants.

C. Electric power generating plants.

D. Refineries and petro-chemical plants.

E. Ethyl alcohol plants.

F. Petroleum and/or fertilizer bulk storage yards or plants.

G. Factories for the manufacture of farm equipment, vehicles, modular homes, campers or products.

H. Grain and feed elevators or mills.

I. Road and highway maintenance facilities.

J. Sewage disposal plants, pumping stations and lagoons.

K. Trucking or freight terminals.

L. Warehouses.

M. Railroad tracks and spurs for conditional use as listed herein.

N. Other industrial uses not listed.

O. Water Depot.

P. Data Center

 

 

 

 

DATA CENTER - A building, complex of buildings, or dedicated space within a building that houses a computer system, servers, appliances, and other associated components used for the remote storage, processing, or transmission of digital data. Such facilities may also include air handlers, water cooling and storage facilities, utility substations, and other associated utility infrastructure to support operations. This definition may also include digital asset mining. Associated infrastructure, such as electrical substations, regardless of ownership, may be subject to separate review and permitting.

 

DIGITAL ASSEST MINING - Involves the use of computer hardware and software specifically designed or used for the purpose of validating data and securing a blockchain network.

 

 

 

CHAPTER EIGHT FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT

 

SECTION 1.0 STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION, FINDINGS OF FACT, PURPOSE, AND OBJECTIVES

 

1. 1. STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION

The Legislature of the State of North Dakota has in North Dakota Century Code, Chapters 40-47 40-05, 11-33 11-11 and 58-03 58-06, delegated responsibility to local governmental units to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry.