Troy’s planning commissioners approve two readings for future industrial zonings

By Charles Bolinger

Editor • Any future industrial projects, including any data centers, with their sights on Troy will have to go through a different approval process than any residential, retail or commercial zoning.

This process has previously been discussed at earlier city council meetings but on July 9 it came before the Troy planning commission for approval.

Ann Byrd, the city’s building and zoning director, explained the new process.

“[Any new industrial zoning project in either of the city’s two industrial zones] would start here with a public hearing; next it would go to you guys, the planning commission, for your recommendation; then it would go to city council for a first reading,” she said. 

She said any recommendations made by the mayor or councilmen would be made to the project, then it would wait a minimum of 14 days before returning to the city council for a second reading. Then the council takes action on the item.

This process allows for more public participation (at least three opportunities) and adds a layer of transparency to the proceedings. It encourages public participation and informed decision-making.

This ordinance is also an outgrowth of the feedback city officials received early this year while the mayor and councilmen wrestled with the idea of approving a large-scale data center within city limits. Even though that data center plan was shot down and Troy is in the midst of a moratorium on data centers, this idea is being pushed forward.

This process will apply to annexations, rezonings, data centers, warehouses, logistics and manufacturing, plus other industrial uses.

The Troy City Council will likely have this on its next agenda, July 20 at 6:30 p.m. The next planning commission meeting is Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in city hall at 116 E. Market St.