Data Center Moratorium Proposal

The City's Land Development Code currently allows data centers to be constructed in industrially-zoned properties, by right, without Commission approval, and without any use-specific regulations on the development. Given nation-wide concerns about data center development, and given the pace at which communities in the region have been receiving data center proposals, many in our community believe there is an urgent need to pause this allowance in the LDC promptly to avoid potentially undesired developments in our community. 

The City Commission recently directed City staff to bring back some information about data centers, but because City staff's time is in high demand, our coalition researched this policy issue, wrote a report, and drafted an ordinance so we could offer a more timely solution to this issue. Our coalition recommends a moratorium on the development and construction of data centers in Lawrence that would remain in effect for up to three (3) years or until the Commission adopts permanent regulations. 

This moratorium would pause any data center applications, and this would provide City staff and the City Commission adequate time to engage the community about this issue and to research, develop, and propose data center regulations. This approach is consistent with actions taken by many Kansas counties facing similar development pressures and would mitigate community tensions about data centers, which have been present in other localities.

Commissioner Mike Courtney is sponsoring our coalition's proposal and will speak about it during his Commissioner's report on Tuesday, and members of our team and others plan to speak about the proposed moratorium during the Commission's general public comment -- 5:00 to 5:45 pm this upcoming Tuesday, 6/9, at City Hall. To learn more, read the one-page summary or our full report.