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Brevard council enacts short moratorium on data centers while code is updated
Summary
The council adopted a temporary moratorium through July 2 on data centers, crypto mining and similar high‑intensity uses to give staff and the planning board time to prepare UDO amendments and to evaluate environmental and utility impacts raised by residents and experts.
Brevard City Council voted March 16 to impose a temporary moratorium — effective immediately and scheduled to expire July 2 unless ended earlier — on data centers, cryptocurrency mining and similar high‑intensity land uses while staff prepares text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance.
City Manager Wilson Hooper said staff reviewed the UDO and concluded updates are needed to address these special land uses, which typically involve large buildings, heavy utility demands, continuous operation and potential noise or lighting impacts. "While that is happening, there's a question of whether we ought to freeze consideration of data center development until we get rules that we're all satisfied with in place," Hooper said.
Public commenters urged a pause until independent study of resource impacts could be completed. Destiny Pettit, who identified herself as a hydrologist, cited peer‑reviewed studies on water and energy use and noise/light impacts and recommended that the city undertake a careful review before permitting such facilities.
Councilmembers said they were not aware of active applications in Brevard but noted prior inquiries and said a short moratorium would allow a deliberate, community‑driven process. Council directed staff to bring alternatives and recommended language to the planning board and returned to council during the moratorium period.
Next steps: planning staff will prepare code amendment options and an implementation plan for planning board review; the moratorium gives the city time to evaluate thresholds (size, water/energy use, onsite generation, noise/light mitigation) and to craft zoning standards or special use requirements.
