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Vandalia council enacts 365-day moratorium on data-center permits
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Summary
The Vandalia City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on accepting or approving permits for data centers so staff can draft zoning rules; the resolution passed after being added to the agenda and will pause any new proposals for 365 days.
The Vandalia City Council on April 20 unanimously approved a 365-day moratorium on accepting, considering or granting any zoning, occupancy or other permits or applications related to data centers within the city.
City Manager Althouse told the council that members had asked staff to pause approvals for proposed data centers so planners would have time to develop zoning regulations "at the guidance of council" before future proposals move forward. "City council has expressed an interest to impose a moratorium on any proposed data centers for the coming 365 days in order to give staff the appropriate time to develop zoning regulations at the guidance of council," Althouse said.
The moratorium was added to the meeting agenda at the start of the session when Vice Mayor Follick moved to amend the agenda and Councilwoman Dugan seconded; that amendment passed on roll call, 6–0. Councilman Hathaway then moved to approve Resolution 26‑R‑27 and Councilwoman Dugan seconded; the council voted unanimously to adopt the moratorium.
The resolution does not name any pending data-center applicants and does not change existing permits; it stops new applications and approvals for the specified 365‑day period while staff prepares proposed zoning language for council consideration. City staff said they will return to the council with draft regulations to guide how the city reviews and decides future data-center proposals.
Councilmembers gave no extended debate on the ordinance at the meeting; the moratorium passed by a 6–0 roll-call vote. The council also noted that the moratorium was placed on the agenda that evening by motion and approved before the substantive vote on the resolution.
