Lawrence City Commission starts process of developing data center rules, imposes 24-month moratorium
The Lawrence City Commission unanimously voted to impose a 24-month moratorium on data center development and initiated the process of creating new data center regulations. This decision came after significant public opposition and aims to allow city staff time to study various impacts like water, energy, noise, and utility costs. During this period, city planning staff will develop text amendments to the Land Development Code, potentially requiring special use permits for data centers.
The Lawrence City Commission, responding to public pressure from data center opponents, unanimously voted to implement a 24-month moratorium on data center development within city limits. This decision, made on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, aims to provide city planning staff with time to develop comprehensive new rules for data centers.
Currently, data centers are permitted by right in industrial zones, but the commission intends to change this through two text amendments to the city's Land Development Code. One amendment will focus on studying potential issues such as water and environmental impacts, energy demands, utility cost implications for residents, noise and light pollution, and mandatory setbacks. The other amendment will require data center developments to obtain a special use permit, necessitating commission approval for future projects.
City officials, including Jeff Crick, director of planning and development services, indicated that the text amendment process could take 12 to 24 months, hence the 24-month moratorium. Vice Mayor Mike Courtney emphasized that these new regulations are crucial, noting that many other U.S. states and municipalities, including Sedgwick County, have already moved to restrict data centers. Mayor Brad Finkeldei stated the commission's intent to establish more restrictive data center regulations than those potentially adopted by Douglas County.
Despite the commission's consensus on the moratorium, residents filled the meeting room to voice their concerns, with some advocating for a complete ban on hyperscale data centers in Douglas County and the city. There was also discussion regarding a provision allowing property owners to request exceptions from the moratorium, which city attorneys explained as a measure to protect the city from legal liability. The commission agreed to modify this language to specify criteria for evaluating such requests, ensuring consistency with the developing text amendments. The city also expressed interest in collaborating with the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University on the moratorium.