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West Haven enacts 12-month moratorium on data-center development
Summary
The West Haven City Council unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on new data-center development to give planning and zoning officials time to study land-use, environmental, infrastructure and public-safety implications and draft regulations. The ban suspends processing of permits and zoning actions for facilities defined as data centers.
The West Haven City Council voted on June 8 to enact a 12-month moratorium on the establishment and development of data centers within city limits.
Mayor Durinda Borer said the pause is intended to give municipal planners and elected officials time to review the likely impacts of large-scale data facilities — including electrical demand, cooling systems and siting — and to consider zoning and licensing rules the city does not currently have in place. "I think it's best to just put everything on hold while we learn more," Mayor Durinda Borer said, explaining that the city lacks the existing regulatory framework to judge potential proposals.
The adopted resolution defines "data center" broadly as facilities that store, process and distribute digital data and which commonly include high-density servers, telecommunications infrastructure, mechanical cooling systems and on-site electrical substations or backup generators. The moratorium bars the planning and zoning commission and other municipal land-use authorities from accepting, processing or approving applications, zoning map changes, site plans, special permits or other approvals intended to facilitate data-center uses during the 12-month period.
Councilman Ronald Quaglani, sponsor of the legislative committee motion, said the pause will allow staff to compare how other municipalities have regulated data centers and to recommend measures consistent with the city's Plan of Conservation and Development and resource-protection goals. The ordinance language filed with the council cites Connecticut General Statutes sections 7-148 and 8-2 as municipal land-use authority.
The motion carried in council. The resolution takes effect immediately on adoption; the council and planning staff will report back to allow the council to consider drafting permanent zoning or licensing requirements after the study period.
What happens next: municipal staff and the planning and zoning commission were directed to research regulatory options and report findings during the moratorium so the council can consider ordinance changes that would apply to any future proposals.
