County council considers updated noise ordinance amid data center conversations

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- The conversation about data centers in St. Joseph County continued this week, following last week’s nearly 10-hour county council meeting that drew hours of public comment.

On Tuesday, the St. Joseph County Council considered an updated noise ordinance that would apply to industrial-zoned properties such as data center projects. The proposal comes after the council voted down a rezoning ordinance last week that would have allowed a new data center in the county.

Opposition to data centers in St. Joseph County has centered on several issues, including environmental impacts and overall quality of life for nearby residents. One frequently raised concern, expressed by locals during public comment at the last county council meeting, has been noise pollution.

The proposed ordinance, Bill 101-25, would update the county’s existing noise rules and specifically address low frequency noise pollution, a common complaint tied to data centers because of the large fans used in their cooling systems.

County Councilman Bryan Tanner of District H is the petitioner of the bill. He said the timing of the bill overlaps with recent data center discussions, but said its intent is broader.

“It does happen to coincide with the timing in which a lot of data center activity has either been approved or considered within the county,” said Tanner. “But the intent is just for a better standard that we hold ourselves to."

Tanner explained that low frequency noise differs from typical sound pollution because of how it is experienced.

“That kind of noise… we can sometimes experience by way of vibration, through a windowpane, which also affects our lives in a similar, if not more substantial way than the noise we hear with our ears.” he said.

According to the National Health Institute, exposure to low frequency noise pollution can lead to agitation, sleep disturbances and stress. The proposed ordinance would require routine monitoring and measurement of those frequencies to ensure they are not disruptive to people living near industrial properties.

Tanner said the regulations could help strengthen the trust between residents and county leaders when and if future industrial developments are proposed.

“My hope is that if or when data centers, or other industrial development, is considered and approved in the future, that we are building greater confidence and trust in the community. That we are putting the right guard rails in place to keep their livelihood, their quality of life and their peace at home sustained."

County leaders ultimately voted to table the bill until their next meeting, Jan. 27. At that time, council members plan to further discuss how the proposed noise regulations would be enforced.