Moore County officials discuss residential development pause, ongoing data center moratorium
Moore County is working on permanent regulations for data center development during an existing two-year moratorium. The Planning and Zoning Commission is also proposing a one-year pause on new residential subdivisions to review growth rules and infrastructure. The County Attorney has advised against a broad permanent ban on data centers without specific findings due to potential legal challenges.
Moore County's Planning and Zoning Commission is advocating for a temporary one-year pause on certain residential developments, specifically major subdivisions involving five or more tracts, to review outdated land-use rules and address infrastructure strain. Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Dexter Golden presented this proposal to the Metro Council, highlighting concerns about road capacity, school enrollment, water availability, emergency service access, and the steady loss of agricultural land. The proposed pause would allow the commission to identify gaps in existing regulations and better integrate development approvals with critical services, with commercial and industrial projects excluded from this particular discussion.
Concurrently, the Metro Council revisited the existing two-year moratorium on data center development in Moore County. This moratorium was enacted to provide the Planning and Zoning Commission time to establish permanent regulations for such facilities. County Attorney Bill Rieder advised council members against implementing a broad, permanent ban on data centers, wind, or solar projects without substantial findings and supporting reasons, citing potential legal challenges.
The ongoing discussions underscore the county's proactive approach to managing rapid growth. While the residential development pause is still in its proposal phase and requires further shaping by the Planning and Zoning Commission before a Metro Council vote, the existing data center moratorium remains in effect. The commission is actively working to define permanent rules that will succeed the temporary ban, incorporating resident feedback into their considerations.