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Broken Arrow imposes temporary moratorium on data‑center approvals to study infrastructure impacts
Summary
The City Council adopted a temporary moratorium through Dec. 31, 2026 (or until permanent rules are adopted) on new data‑center rezonings, CUPs, site plans and building permits so staff can study power, water, noise, traffic and fiscal impacts and gather public input.
The Broken Arrow City Council voted June 16 to adopt an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on accepting or processing applications for data‑center development. The moratorium, modeled on actions taken in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, pauses rezonings, conditional use permits, site plans and building permits for data‑center uses until staff completes a study and proposes permanent zoning standards or the council lifts the pause. The moratorium automatically sunsets Dec. 31, 2026, but may be extended by the council.
City staff and the mayor framed the measure as a pause for due diligence rather than opposition to data centers. The city manager said staff would analyze infrastructure capacity, fiscal effects, emergency‑response implications, water and power needs, and best practices from other municipalities. Staff also recommended conducting public outreach and a dedicated forum during the moratorium period so residents could weigh in on long‑term planning questions.
Speakers at the meeting voiced a range of concerns and technical perspectives. LeAnn Jackson, who said she keeps bees and follows environmental issues, expressed apprehension about water and power demands but supported using the moratorium to provide public education and time for study. Mike Sanders, a registered professional engineer who works on data‑center projects, told the council that larger hyperscale data centers often deploy their own prime power (gas turbines, battery storage and on‑site generation) and closed‑loop water treatment, and “don’t take power off the grid” in the way some residents fear; he recommended careful scrutiny of smaller facilities that might rely on local utilities.
Council members said they wanted robust technical analysis and clear standards before any applications proceed, noting that the city has received inquiries and a letter of intent from a site owner. The ordinance includes exemptions and grandfathering for vested projects and sets an appeal route to the Board of Adjustment for applicants who believe they should proceed despite the moratorium.
The council adopted the moratorium and approved the associated emergency clause to put the pause into immediate effect. Staff will return with a timeline and a public‑engagement plan for the study and rulemaking process.
What happens next: staff will inventory potential sites, meet with utilities and emergency services to assess capacity, review best practices from peer cities, and hold public meetings during the moratorium period. The council may extend or lift the moratorium based on staff recommendations.
