Camdenton issues 12-month data center moratorium, rescinds Opportunity Zone support

The Camdenton Board of Aldermen voted to rescind its support for an Opportunity Zone and enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center development following a highly attended public meeting. The decision comes after it was revealed the Opportunity Zone, created by Blake Hodits with MO Lake Development LLC, behind a local Walmart and spanning 1,045 acres, was intended to include a data center. The city's action aims to provide time to draft new ordinances that would restrict or prevent future data centers within city limits. This move mirrors a similar decision by the Camden County Commission, which also withdrew its support for the Opportunity Zone, as did Missouri Representative Jeff Vernetti. The Opportunity Zone land was anticipated to be annexed into the city as part of the development agreement.