Desert Hot Springs extends data‑center moratorium 22 months and directs staff study

The City of Desert Hot Springs City Council on July 7 unanimously adopted an urgency ordinance extending a temporary moratorium on new data centers and similar high‑intensity computing uses for 22 months and 15 days, effective immediately.

Staff said the pause is intended to give the city time to draft comprehensive zoning and operational regulations after an initial 45‑day moratorium adopted June 16. City planner Miss Williams (staff) told the council that the general plan and zoning do not yet address the unique infrastructure needs of data centers — including electrical demand, cooling systems, backup power, water consumption and land‑use compatibility — and that an extension will allow staff and the council time to evaluate appropriate rules.

The moratorium drew extensive public comment. Resident Joshua Hendrick urged the council to put a permanent ban on the ballot and cited local examples where communities asked for stronger limits; Jeff Dickman, a Desert Hot Springs resident, said data centers do not deliver the neighborhood jobs and community benefits the city needs; and other residents highlighted concerns about water use, increased electricity costs and limited local employment from such projects. Michael Shadman, an architect and developer participating by Zoom, urged the city not to ban the industry outright and to study potential benefits such as construction jobs and infrastructure upgrades.

In debate, several council members — including Mayor Pro Tem Dirk Voss — said the moratorium should be used to craft a legally defensible policy and avoid litigation that can follow hastily written bans. Mayor Mattis said he preferred a shorter study window but supported directing staff to complete a full study in the moratorium period and to coordinate with local water districts and the utility provider. Council directed staff to correct a drafting inconsistency in the ordinance (a whereas referencing 6 months) so the text uniformly reflects the 22‑month extension.

The ordinance requires a 4/5 vote for adoption as an urgency measure; the council approved it unanimously. Staff will return to the council with the results of the study and proposed regulatory language before the moratorium expires.

What happens next: the urgency ordinance is effective immediately and the council expects staff to work with Mission Springs Water District, Southern California Edison and other agencies during the moratorium to analyze water and power impacts and draft enforceable code language.