Charter review committee recommends council evaluate ban or regulations on stand‑alone data centers in Edgewater

On April 28, 2026, the Edgewater Charter Review Committee voted to recommend that the City Council evaluate charter regulations or a prohibition on stand‑alone data centers within the city, including large facilities supporting artificial intelligence and similar high‑density computing operations. The motion passed with three votes in favor and one opposed.

The committee’s mover, Mandy Bullard, urged adding language to the charter to prohibit ‘‘AI data centers or any data centers, data‑gathering centers, within our city limits’’ because of noise concerns and heavy water use and uncertainty about industrial wastewater disposal. ‘‘I just think that it should be added to our charter to prohibit AI data centers,’’ Bullard said during the discussion.

City Attorney Gavin Rollins told the committee the state is already addressing data‑center issues through legislation he cited as Senate Bill 484, which would impose requirements such as water‑supply plans and related conditions; Rollins said the statute does not create an outright statewide ban and that cities retain options, but he warned of potential preemption challenges tied to other bills he referenced as Senate Bill 180. ‘‘The state actually has addressed this… it’s not an outright ban,’’ Rollins said, adding that the city would defend its choices but legal challenges are possible.

The committee debated scope and definitions. Members voiced support for preventing ‘‘super centers’’ while allowing small server rooms that are part of ordinary local businesses. Bullard presented a tentative threshold she had researched — prohibiting dedicated data centers larger than about 2,500 square feet — as a way to limit only large, high‑impact operations while not restricting small businesses with modest server rooms.

Rollins offered two approaches: place a clear size‑based prohibition in the charter and direct the council to adopt implementing land‑development regulations, or require voter approval for locating large data centers in the city. He suggested charter language such as a requirement that ‘‘any dedicated server space over [X] square feet shall require voter approval to locate within the city of Edgewater’’ and said the council would implement details through ordinance.

Donna McDavid opposed moving forward without more information. ‘‘I think we needed more information, so I couldn’t support it at this point,’’ she said before the roll call vote.

The committee’s motion — "recommend that the City Council enact charter regulations or ban data centers within the city of Edgewater" — was made by Mandy Bullard, seconded by another committee member, and recorded as passing. The roll call vote recorded Donna McDavid voting No and Mandy Bullard, Patrick Fisher and Linda Mosher voting Yes. (Gary Conroy was excused.)

Rollins said committee recommendations and the drafted charters/questions will be submitted to City Council for review. He described a drafting timetable that foresees ordinances and council first readings in July, second readings in August, and placement on the November ballot for measures the council approves. The committee agreed that the issue should be framed to emphasize restrictions apply to new construction or large, stand‑alone facilities to reduce public confusion.

Next steps: Rollins will draft proposed charter language and possible size thresholds or voter‑approval wording based on the committee’s guidance, and the City Council will decide which items to move forward to ordinance and the ballot.