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Lockport residents press council for data center moratorium or ban; mayor says discussions suspended pending master-plan review
Summary
Multiple residents urged a moratorium or outright ban on data centers; the mayor said the city is pausing discussions and will revisit the Star Innovation District master plan at its five-year review, urging residents to remain engaged in formal planning processes.
Several residents used public comment to press Lockport leaders for a moratorium or ban on data centers, saying the facilities pose environmental, water and power risks and citing other jurisdictions that have adopted bans.
"I am strongly calling for the mayor and elected officials to enact a total ban of data centers in the city of Lockport," said Sandy Burenski, who identified herself as representing Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (CARE). She called the council’s May 28 press release that said discussions had been suspended "non-binding" and urged formal codified protections.
Other speakers repeated the request for a moratorium. "I propose that we pass a ban on all data centers in Lockport," said Emily, a lifelong resident who said she lives on State Street. Brent and Noah also urged a pause or ban, noting a recent municipal action in Lyle and a nationwide trend of voter action and petitions opposing data centers.
The mayor responded that the city had effectively paused data-center discussions and would not "sneak" projects through: he said any project would have to follow public hearings, planning and zoning review, and the city’s standard land-use process. He said the Star Innovation District master plan will be revisited at its five-year anniversary next May, and he urged residents to stay engaged in the public process and to monitor official packets and meetings.
Planning staff clarified that data centers are presently an allowable use only within the Star Innovation District overlay; removing or changing that allowance would require a public amendment to the overlay and master plan.
Speakers asked for stronger, earlier action (a moratorium or ordinance) and offered examples of other municipalities that have enacted bans or moratoria. City leaders responded that staff will revisit the master plan on the stated timeline and that no data-center permitting would resume in the interim.
