Rice City Council Votes Monday On Data Center Moratorium And Study - 98.1
The Rice City Council is scheduled to vote on an interim ordinance to impose a one-year moratorium on the establishment, construction, or expansion of data centers within the city. This temporary ban is intended to allow the Planning Commission to conduct a study on data centers as a land use and their community impacts, informing future zoning ordinance amendments.
The City of Rice, Minnesota, is set to address the growing concern over data center development as its City Council prepares to vote on an interim ordinance. The proposed measure would implement a one-year prohibition on the establishment, construction, or expansion of data centers within city limits.
According to city officials, the moratorium is designed to safeguard the planning process and ensure the health, safety, and welfare of Rice residents. Concurrently, the City Council would authorize the Planning Commission to undertake a comprehensive study. This study would examine data centers as a specific land use, analyze their impacts on other communities, and review existing regulations adopted by various cities to manage their development. The ordinance allows for an earlier expiration if the city's zoning ordinance is amended regarding data centers, or if the council passes a resolution to end the moratorium.