Committee advances 60-day stopgap on data-center approvals amid resident concerns

The Gallatin City Council committee voted to send a 60-day stopgap resolution (R2607-65) to the full council that temporarily suspends acceptance, processing and approval of data-center applications while the city considers a broader moratorium and additional planning review.

Residents and councilmembers argued the pause is a low-risk way to let the planning commission complete work and gather more information. Mary Jinang, a resident, told the committee: “I do believe that we need a moratorium currently as there are lots of unknowns about data centers… data center should be reliant on their own power and water, and tax breaks should not be… the burden of the city.” Another resident, Heidi Emery, urged the committee to approve the “temporary pause” and stressed that the vote should be “based on merits of the resolution, not on personalities or political dynamics.”

Councilman Gervontz said sending the stopgap to planning was “a no brainer” and framed it as a limited, precautionary measure: “There is no risk… at least we as always, I'm listening to my constituent and that's what they want.” The mayor said she did not expect immediate local impacts from data-center projects within 60 days but acknowledged residents’ concerns about decommissioning large facilities.

The motion to send the stopgap resolution to council carried in committee. The full council will decide whether to adopt the temporary suspension, and the planning commission’s findings were identified as a likely input to further action.