South Elgin Village Board approves temporary moratorium on building data centers in community
The South Elgin Village Board unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center construction while officials study the facilities’ potential impacts. The action follows strong resident opposition to White Rose Partners’ proposed data center, whose annexation request was rejected in August.
The South Elgin Village Board approved a 12-month moratorium on building data centers as municipal staff evaluate their potential impacts. Village President Steve Ward supported the measure, while Village Attorney Derke Price cautioned that courts may disfavor lengthy moratoriums and said the board could consider an extension later. The South Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission had unanimously recommended approval after a public hearing.
The moratorium follows the board’s unanimous rejection of Dallas-based White Rose Partners’ request to annex land along Kenyon Road for a proposed data center. About 150 residents attended the August meeting, and a petition opposing the project gathered more than 9,475 signatures. Elgin officials are separately considering a 12-month moratorium, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has said he favors statewide regulation rather than a state moratorium.