Clearfield City Council passes data center moratorium in wake of ‘grandiose scale of Stratos’
Clearfield City Council unanimously passed a temporary 180-day moratorium on new data center development to evaluate land use regulations. This action was influenced by concerns stemming from the large-scale Stratos data center project in Box Elder County. The city currently lacks specific zoning ordinances for data centers.
The Clearfield City Council unanimously enacted a temporary 180-day moratorium on new data center development. The decision, made at a recent City Council meeting, restricts construction, expansion, or alteration of buildings for data center purposes, as well as associated subdivision activity.
According to Mayor Mark Shepherd, the move was prompted by widespread concern across Utah regarding the "grandiose scale" of the Stratos data center project in Box Elder County. Shepherd noted a significant shift in perception regarding data centers, contrasting the current apprehension with a past competitive desire among communities to attract facilities like Meta's in Eagle Mountain.
The moratorium provides Clearfield City with crucial time to assess the potential impacts of data centers on city resources and to establish appropriate amendments to its permanent land use regulations. Currently, data centers are not explicitly approved or acceptable in any of the city's existing zones, making a legislative decision necessary should a developer propose a project. Mayor Shepherd emphasized the importance of thorough investigation and testing, maintaining a positive view of data centers under the right circumstances.