Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Center Moratorium topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission recommends 12‑month moratorium on large data centers, refers ordinance to Common Council
Summary
The commission voted to recommend a 12‑month moratorium on large data centers to the Common Council, amending the referral to send the measure directly to Council rather than to License & Ordinance; staff noted the city attorney said a proposed accessory‑use exception could remain or be removed without changing the ordinance’s effect.
The Middleton Planning Commission on June 9 voted to recommend a 12‑month moratorium on large data centers in Chapter 10 of the zoning ordinance and to forward the ordinance directly to the Common Council.
Staff presented the proposed moratorium and explained that the final section (an accessory‑use exception) had been added following input from the Chamber of Commerce. Daphne, planning staff, said the city attorney indicated the accessory‑use language could be left in or removed without altering the ordinance’s substantive effect: “He said that he thought the section could stay in as is or it could also be removed,” staff reported, describing the attorney’s view.
Commission discussion and timeline
Commissioners noted the county’s moratorium on data centers is 18 months; the city’s proposed 12‑month moratorium aligns with the advisory group’s 12‑month timeline for producing recommendations. Staff explained that an unmapped zoning district referenced in the draft ordinance would not automatically apply to any parcel; mapping it to a property would require a zoning map amendment and a public hearing.
A commissioner moved to amend the recommendation so the package be referred directly to the Common Council (rather than first to License & Ordinance); the amendment carried and the commission then voted to recommend the 12‑month moratorium to the Common Council.
Next steps
The measure will go to the Common Council for consideration; staff told commissioners they expect to receive advisory‑group recommendations during the moratorium period that can inform any subsequent zoning language or mapped districts.
