Flagstaff City Council again delays decision on data center regulations

The Flagstaff City Council has once again delayed its decision on proposed amendments to the city's zoning code concerning data center development, pushing the discussion to an unknown date later this year. Originally scheduled for April and then May, the council granted a second request from city staff to postpone a vote on two key amendments: one that would subject large data centers to a conditional use permitting process, and another that would impose an outright ban. Zoning code manager Tiffany Antol cited the need for further analysis, broader community engagement, and clearer communication regarding the scope of the proposed ban, which was narrowly endorsed by the Planning and Zoning Commission against staff recommendations. Antol and City Manager Joanne Keene confirmed that no data center proposals have been submitted to Flagstaff, but Mayor Becky Daggett emphasized the council's desire for the issue to return as soon as possible. Community members have voiced concerns over the environmental sustainability, significant electricity and water demands, and potential impacts on consumer electricity prices associated with large-scale data centers. The article also briefly references a separate, controversial data center project proposed by a UK-based developer in Page, Arizona, which faces ongoing public opposition including attempted ballot initiatives and street protests.