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Warren council approves one-year moratorium on new data centers to allow zoning rules and safeguards
Summary
The council voted unanimously to direct staff to draft a one-year moratorium and related zoning language for data centers, citing grid strain, water use, and the lack of specific local regulations. Legal staff said the moratorium should be time-limited and include periodic status reports.
The Warren City Council on July 14 unanimously directed legal counsel to draft a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of new data center facilities in the city to allow time for zoning standards and operational safeguards to be written.
Council secretary Mindy Moore introduced the proposal, citing recent storm-related power outages and the potential "tremendous additional strain on the electrical grid" from large-scale data centers. Moore asked legal counsel to prepare a resolution establishing a moratorium while staff and council develop zoning definitions, locational and buffering standards, infrastructure and environmental protections.
City attorney Schroeder told the council that the moratorium would preserve local zoning control while the city develops a definition for data centers and the related ordinance language. He recommended a one-year duration with a mid-term status report so the council can ensure the drafting process is moving and avoid undue interference with property rights.
Councilmembers pressed on practical details including whether data centers would be restricted to heavy-industrial zones, requirements around on-site power and water impacts, and the possible need for outside consultants to support drafting. Several members asked that the ordinance include explicit standards for decommissioning and environmental protections.
The motion carried by voice vote and will return to council as a draft resolution and proposed ordinance language. Schroeder said staff will work with Planning and other departments and return with a proposed draft and, if necessary, a status report within six months.
Next steps: legal counsel will draft the moratorium resolution and accompanying zoning amendments for council consideration at a future meeting; the moratorium as described will be time-limited (recommended one year) and include progress reporting.
