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Peru council adopts temporary moratorium on data‑center development
Summary
The Peru Common Council voted July 6 to adopt Ordinance 8‑2026, a temporary moratorium on hyperscale data‑center development within city limits while staff drafts regulatory standards; telecommunications facilities used by AT&T and Comcast are exempted.
The Peru Common Council voted July 6 to adopt Ordinance 8‑2026, enacting a temporary moratorium on the development of hyperscale data centers within city limits while the city crafts formal regulations.
The moratorium, which council members said was modeled on a Miami County ordinance, bars new data-center projects in industrial and commercial zones until the council adopts a regulatory ordinance. Councilman Fischer explained the exemption for telecommunications facilities, noting the city has existing server locations used by AT&T on Miami Street and by Comcast on Child Avenue; those facilities were left out of the moratorium so ongoing wireless‑communications services are not interrupted.
Why it matters: supporters said the moratorium gives the city time to write zoning rules and technical standards for data‑center projects, including criteria on land use and siting. Council members discussed the ordinance’s duration; the draft states the moratorium remains in effect until a subsequent ordinance establishing regulations is adopted, meaning no fixed sunset date is set at this time. Fischer estimated the regulatory process could take about 60–90 days.
Council debate focused on scope and process rather than overturning any existing uses. After limited discussion, a motion to adopt Ordinance 8‑2026 was made, seconded and approved on a roll‑call vote.
What comes next: city staff and the council will prepare and review a regulatory ordinance to define how data centers — and any permitted exceptions — will be evaluated and permitted in the future. Council members said they expect to follow the county’s lead but tailor rules to local conditions.
Quotations: "This is really to prevent somebody from coming into Peru and putting data centers that fit that particular category on already zoned industrial and commercial sites," Councilman Fischer said while introducing the measure.
The measure was adopted at the July 6 meeting and will remain in effect until the council approves implementing regulations.
