Local votes and rules
⚖️ Court case · Franklin
A residents' group, Franklin Citizens for Responsible Development, sued to overturn the Franklin Planning and Zoning Commission's March 2026 approval of TenKey's data center plan. A key question is a 2025 state law (House Bill 321) that limits who can sue over zoning decisions. The group says that limit is unconstitutional. The judge planned more review before an October 2026 hearing.
✅ Approved · Franklin
Franklin's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve TenKey's preliminary plan for a large data center at 421 Steele Road off I-65. It had put off the vote twice. The commission added conditions: monthly updates, public reports and water use tracking.
⚖️ Court case · Unincorporated Simpson County
Data center developer TenKey LandCo sued Simpson County Fiscal Court to throw out the county's December 2025 data center ordinance. TenKey says the county cannot set zoning rules for the whole county when the city of Franklin controls land inside its limits. TenKey plans a $5 billion data center off I-65 in Franklin with on-site gas turbines.
📜 Data center rules · Unincorporated Simpson County
Simpson County Fiscal Court passed rules for data centers and on-site power plants. Data centers need a special permit (conditional use permit) and can only go in heavy industrial zones. The county can oversee energy and water use, noise, pollution and on-site power. The developer of a planned project in Franklin threatened to sue.
✋ Turned down · Franklin
Franklin's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously against a zoning change that would have allowed 'advanced technology centers' (data centers) with on-site power plants. Members said the wording was too vague and gave the city too little control. The vote was a recommendation to the Franklin City Commission.
Find your town
In Kentucky, cities and towns decide inside their limits. Outside them, the county decides.