Board of Supervisors approves temporary data center moratorium
The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a temporary 120-day moratorium on new data center permits to allow for the drafting of new zoning regulations. This decision aims to address potential public health impacts, including water usage and noise. The ban was enacted following a 3-2 vote by the supervisors.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors has enacted a temporary, 120-day moratorium on new data center projects in the county. The ban, approved after over an hour of closed-door deliberation and public comment, aims to provide time for the drafting of a new zoning code text that will outline specific rules and standards for data center development.
According to a July memo, potential requirements in the new code could include closed-loop cooling systems for water conservation, noise reduction measures, and specific design standards, with a draft expected by December 15. The resolution passed with a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Rex Scott and Steve Christy opposing the measure. Scott cited legal advice as the basis for his vote, while Board Chair Jennifer Allen supported it to ensure land use policy accounts for public health impacts identified in the county's Data Center Public Health Review.
The moratorium applies to future data center developments where permits for site improvements have not yet been submitted. Currently, the county is considering two projects: Project Blue, which has already begun construction and faced protests, and Project Gravel, a proposed 160-acre facility in Sahuarita. The impact on Project Gravel is unclear, as developers claim the land is already zoned for industrial use. The Board also voted to consider extending the ban in the coming months.