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Planning and Zoning Commission recommends temporary data-center moratorium, urges waiver of extra readings
Summary
The Marshalltown Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend a temporary moratorium on new data centers and substantial expansions to city council and requested waiver of the 2nd and 3rd readings to prevent applications from proceeding while regulations are developed.
The Marshalltown Planning and Zoning Commission on an 6–0 recorded voice vote recommended the city council adopt a temporary moratorium on new data centers and substantial expansions and asked council to waive the 2nd and 3rd readings to set the moratorium quickly.
Clayton Ender, the city’s assistant director for housing and community development and zoning administrator, described the draft ordinance as a short-term tool to define data centers, list development approvals included under the moratorium, and allow staff and the commission time to craft specific regulations. "This ordinance would apply to all new data centers and to substantial expansions," Ender said, noting narrow exceptions that could be granted by city-council resolution for public-health or undue hardship. He also said the moratorium would be effective on final passage and extend to 2026-11-23, with a one-time 60‑day council extension possible.
Several members of the public urged swift action. Lee Bauder told the commission, "We just would like to have the moratorium go through because we do want that full disclosure so we can make informed decisions." Erin Carpenter, who said she served on the comprehensive-plan steering committee and the stormwater advisory committee, described the moratorium as essential risk management and recommended waiving the additional readings to avoid procedural vulnerability.
During discussion, commissioners clarified that existing code would treat a large data center as a "major utility" requiring special-use or similar permit processes and public hearings under current rules, but that the moratorium aims to buy time for more detailed, topic-specific standards. A motion to recommend the moratorium and the waiver passed after a second; commissioners called the roll and voices recorded Deidre, Benjamin, Patrick, Steven, Mahala and John Boston as voting "yes." The commission’s recommendation now goes to the Marshalltown City Council for formal consideration and possible final action at its next meeting.
