Aurora City Council decides against voting on data center ban
The Aurora City Council voted 6-5 against reconsidering an indefinite moratorium on new data centers, preventing discussion of the proposed ban at Monday’s meeting. Residents and Join Unite continue opposing Vantage Data Centers’ proposed 860,000-square-foot Trident facility, while Mayor Mike Coffman said the council will revisit the issue at its next meeting.
The Aurora City Council voted 6-5 against suspending its rules to reconsider a proposed indefinite moratorium on new data centers. Because the motion needed seven votes, the council did not debate or vote on the ban, prompting strong criticism and boos from residents who cited concerns about environmental impacts, water shortages, energy strain, noise and proximity to homes.
The proposed moratorium would apply only to new data center applications and would give Aurora time to develop regulations such as neighborhood setbacks and noise controls. It would not affect Vantage Data Centers’ proposed 860,000-square-foot Trident facility. Vantage asked for at least a 90-day delay while it explored locations farther from residences, but Mayor Mike Coffman rejected the request and said the council would revisit the moratorium at its next meeting.