Jackson County legislature still considering data center zoning ban. What to know
The Jackson County Legislature is considering a 120-day moratorium on zoning for new data centers and battery storage facilities in unincorporated areas of the county. The proposed ordinance, driven by community opposition, aims to allow time to establish more permanent policies. A public hearing is scheduled for June 1.
The Jackson County Legislature is currently weighing a proposed ordinance that would enact a 120-day moratorium on zoning approvals for new data centers and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) sites within the county's unincorporated areas. Legislative Vice-Chair Sean Smith proposed the ban to create a waiting period for developing more permanent land use policies for data centers. The legislature, which has been considering the measure since early April, cites the rapid expansion of data centers and widespread community opposition as key motivators.
Legislators will meet on Monday at the Jackson County Courthouse in downtown Kansas City; however, a vote on the moratorium has been postponed until at least June 1, when a public hearing is set for 3 p.m. The article notes that similar legislation has already passed in Kansas City. Amidst this, Nebius, a Dutch AI services company, recently broke ground on a $150 billion, 400-acre data center in Independence, projected to have an 800-megawatt capacity, despite ongoing protests from nearby residents.