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Mason council delays M3 zoning vote, approves 90-day moratorium after hours of public comment
Summary
After hours of public comment focused on water, noise and transparency, the Mason City Council voted 4-3 on Dec. 5 to table Ordinance 266 (creating an M3 technology-innovation zoning district), direct staff to draft a 90-day moratorium ordinance and form a citizen advisory commission.
The Mason City Council on Dec. 5 postponed action on a proposed technology-innovation zoning district intended to regulate large data centers, voting 4-3 to table Ordinance 266 and direct staff to initiate a 90-day moratorium and a citizen advisory commission.
Hundreds of residents filled the public-comment period to oppose the ordinance and press the council for more study and transparency. Speakers repeatedly raised concerns about groundwater and aquifer impacts, noise and light, property values, and potential municipal costs tied to bringing in a hyperscale data center. "I don't want the data center ever in our backyard," one resident said, urging a pause and independent studies to evaluate environmental and infrastructure…
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