Lexington council sends data center zoning rules back to planning commission after packed public hearing
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council sent proposed data center zoning rules back to the planning commission after a packed hearing featuring concerns about noise, water use, energy demand and power consumption. The council is also scheduled to vote on extending the existing data center moratorium through October 2027, while Dart Points and other local businesses urged officials to avoid overly restrictive rules.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council returned proposed data center zoning rules to the planning commission, directing it to develop a separate zoning category. The proposal includes potential limits on facility size, energy and water use, and setbacks from locations such as schools.
The action followed hours of public comment, with some Lexington residents calling for a two-year moratorium, megawatt limits or a complete ban because of concerns about noise and demands on local resources. Dart Points, which has plans for a Lexington project, said it does not intend to build a hyperscale facility, while Spectrum, Forcht Bank and the University of Kentucky urged the council to preserve flexibility for existing infrastructure and smaller data centers.
The council is expected to vote Thursday on extending the current moratorium, which is set to expire Oct. 31, through October 2027.