Council tables data‑center zoning change to get more information on water, power and oversight

A proposed ordinance that would add 'data center' as a listed use in several industrial zoning districts prompted extended public comment and technical questioning at the Jan. 27 Lawton City Council meeting. Staff and consultants described a tiered approach tied to peak electrical demand, and the council ultimately voted 7–1 to table the item for further education and possible amendment.

Planning staff said the draft ordinance would permit data centers with a peak electrical demand of less than 5 megawatts as an outright permitted use in specified zones and require use‑permit review for larger facilities. Several council members and residents pushed back on permitting anything by right in certain industrial districts and asked whether the 5‑megawatt threshold was appropriate.

Public commenters warned of long‑term impacts from data centers, including constant low‑frequency noise, heavy and continuous water use for cooling, and limited local employment after construction. A Garver engineer and the public utilities director explained the city's water‑availability review and said many locations inside city limits could not support large water demands without significant infrastructure or raw‑water agreements.

Council discussed alternatives including removing the 5‑megawatt automatic permit threshold so every data center is subject to a use‑permit on‑review, and setting PSO (electric utility) and water‑availability review as required steps. Council asked the Lawton Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) and city staff to present more information; the item was tabled until the first or second meeting in February to allow LEDC to brief council and for staff to file required public‑hearing notices. The motion to table passed 7–1.