Hubbard City voters to decide on proposed data center ban
Hubbard City voters will decide whether to approve or reject an ordinance banning data centers, following months of community opposition and a petition drive. The city previously imposed a 12-month data center moratorium, while residents say the city has not adopted sufficient zoning regulations.
Hubbard City voters are set to decide whether to approve or reject a ballot ordinance that would ban data centers in the city. The measure was placed on the ballot after residents organized a petition campaign prompted by concerns about Mayor Ben Kyle’s non-disclosure agreement and discussions with an unnamed data center company.
Petition organizers Jim Frederick and Katie Costello said residents felt excluded from the city’s decision-making process after weeks of packed council meetings and a 12-month moratorium adopted in June. Hubbard Council President Mike Mogg said the proposed ban is broader than necessary and argued that smaller facilities should remain possible, but said the decision now rests with voters. If the ban passes, the city would pursue zoning changes to implement it; if it fails, a city data center committee is expected to resume work on regulations that could restrict mega-sites while allowing smaller facilities.