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Jackson County schedules public hearing on proposed one-year data-center moratorium
Summary
County planning staff presented a draft ordinance to pause future data-center permitting for one year so the county can define standards and study impacts; commissioners agreed to call a public hearing for Aug. 18 to begin the moratorium process.
Jackson County planning staff on Wednesday presented a draft ordinance that would temporarily pause permitting of new data centers for one year while the county develops standards to evaluate their impacts and benefits.
Planning staff said the moratorium would "allow that conversation to occur" and give the county time to clarify definitions and regulatory standards. "This would pause any future development for a year to allow us to have those conversations about how best to... address and whether or not we want to put standards in place specifically for data centers," staff told the board.
Commissioners and staff discussed legal limits on banning uses outright under state law and weighed possible economic benefits. One commissioner noted that large facilities can generate substantial tax revenue; staff cited an example of a 250,000-square-foot facility generating around $12 million in taxes in a neighboring county.
After discussion the board voted to set a public hearing on the draft moratorium for Aug. 18 so the county can advertise, solicit public input, and continue drafting any ordinance language and standards. Staff said any subsequent ordinance changes would proceed through the planning board and then back to the commissioners for action.
