Dunkirk Approves $7,500 to Explore Expanding Zoning Reach Beyond City Limits

From the Dunkirk City Council meeting on June 22, 2026

The Dunkirk City Council unanimously approved a $7,500 contract with HWC Engineering to review the city's planning documents and guide an expansion of its zoning buffer zone — the area beyond city limits where Dunkirk controls land use decisions.

Dunkirk currently has zoning jurisdiction extending a half-mile past its borders in Jay County. The city is exploring expanding that reach to up to two miles, which would give it control over permitting, setbacks, and development standards in a much larger area.

City Attorney Wes cited several emerging development types driving the expansion: solar farms, wind farms, data centers requiring massive water and electricity, commercial battery storage facilities with fire safety concerns, and carbon sequestration projects. He noted that POET has discussed drilling a well and storing carbon underground in the area, and that data center diesel generators have caused noise problems in New Haven.

The expansion requires two steps: Dunkirk's plan commission must recommend it to the council for a vote, and then Jay County's planning commission must agree to cede jurisdiction, followed by county commissioner approval. Wes said he does not expect opposition from county officials. The city of Portland already operates with a two-mile buffer zone.

The $7,500 is a not-to-exceed figure. HWC Engineering's representative is Ally Daugherty. The review is expected to take no more than 45 days after receiving the signed contract and existing planning documents.

The council had initially approved the buffer zone study at its June 8 meeting.

Source: Meeting transcript — City of Dunkirk - City Council Meeting - June 22, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.