Salem council directs staff to begin moratorium and zoning rewrite for AI data centers

The Salem City Council voted to direct staff to initiate a moratorium on AI data centers and start amendments to the city’s land‑use code, a step councilors and staff said is meant to pause new large‑scale proposals while regulations are reviewed.

Councilor Nishioka moved the measure, saying the action would begin a process to protect the city while staff develops the factual record and legal findings the law requires. The motion, to "direct staff to initiate the process to establish a moratorium on AI data centers in Salem and adopt resolution number 2026‑36 to initiate the process to amend the city's zoning code to address AI data centers," passed by voice roll call with all councilors recorded in favor.

City Attorney Dan Acheson told council that a moratorium is a procedural tool, not a permanent ban, and that staff must comply with state notice and finding requirements to avoid appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals. Acheson said: "AI data centers are different than traditional or enterprise level data centers. They are much bigger and ... take more resources," emphasizing the need for targeted findings and care in drafting any moratorium.

In public testimony preceding the vote, hundreds of residents and dozens of organizations urged action. Opponents called for a long pause or outright ban, pointing to water and noise risks, while unions and some labor representatives urged careful review so that construction work and apprenticeships are not lost.

Staff told the council it expects to send the 45‑day notice to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development as part of the moratorium process and to schedule initial public hearings once draft findings and amendments are ready.

The motion does not itself change zoning; it simply authorizes staff to begin the moratorium process and drafting of code amendments for later council consideration.