GONZALES - Members of the Ascension Parish Zoning Commission toiled over the local land development code concerning the development of data centers in the parish. 

During Wednesday evening's meeting, members voted to add an amendment in its parish code that says any applicant for a data center must hold two public meetings before submitting its application to rezone land for high impact development facilities. 

The council also included that the entity operating the facility has to independently generate, operate and maintain power, an attempt at making data center's energy supplies separate from the parish. 

While discussing the rules' applicability, the committee decided to change key wording members hope will give data centers less of an opportunity to try and circumvent the local legislation. 

Members also decided to lower the allowed decibel level from data centers in the parish from 50 to 45. 

The commission's recommendations will be passed on to the full parish council for an additional vote.