Lawrence City Commission approves extra layers of oversight for data centers, asks for patience on further regulations
The Lawrence City Commission voted 5-0 to require future data center projects to obtain special use permits, adding public hearings and oversight to the approval process. The action does not change the city’s existing two-year moratorium, while officials continue developing broader regulations and some residents call for hyperscale data centers to be banned.
The Lawrence City Commission unanimously approved a land-use code amendment requiring future data center projects to receive special use permits. Any project granted an exemption from the city’s existing two-year moratorium would therefore face additional hearings before the Planning Commission and City Commission, which could impose conditions.
Mayor Brad Finkeldei and city staff said the amendment was an interim oversight measure rather than a ban or final policy on water, electricity or data center definitions. Officials said they need more time to research and draft comprehensive regulations, while residents including Iris Craver urged the city to go further and prohibit hyperscale facilities. Douglas County has separately described a de facto pause on data center applications but has not adopted an official moratorium.