Data Center Moratorium Update

The City's Land Development Code has a provision that allowed 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 rapid data center development, our coalition and other community members advocated for a data center moratorium, which the City Commission passed on July 14.

The Commission was responsive to our community concerns and approved even stronger protections than staff recommended. They

• doubled the length of the moratorium to two years,

• added strong stipulations to an exceptions clause in the moratorium,

• directed staff to research rigorous regulations for the future,

• initiated a simple amendment to the Land Development Code that is more protective until new regulations can be passed, and

• called upon Haskell and KU to follow the City's lead because they both have jurisdiction over their own land within the City.

Thank you to the City Commission and all of the advocates who wrote letters and attended the Commission meeting to show their support!