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Council declines moratorium on data centers, asks staff to draft code definition and prohibition options
Summary
Council members heard that Newcastle’s code has no industrial zoning and therefore currently does not allow data centers; members asked staff to return with ordinance language to define 'large-scale data center' and consider explicit prohibition rather than a short moratorium.
City Manager Pingel told the council that Newcastle’s current code contains no industrial zone and therefore does not permit data centers under existing land-use rules, a point staff said makes a moratorium unnecessary today.
"Under our current code, we don't have an industrial zone... and so we don't have an allowed use currently for data centers in the city of Newcastle," Pingel said, noting that any application for a data center today would be turned down under current zoning. Several council members nonetheless expressed concern about future zoning changes and asked staff to present an ordinance defining "large-scale data center" and, if council desires, making such a use explicitly prohibited.
Deputy Mayor Charbonneau and others suggested that an ordinance that defines the term and lists it as a prohibited use would be clearer and more durable than a temporary moratorium. Council Member Jacobs, who had asked that the topic be added to the agenda, said a moratorium is one tool but the council should be precise about the definition if they want to prevent large facilities.
Staff agreed to draft language for council consideration; no formal vote or moratorium was adopted.
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