Residents vent frustration after Aurora data center vote, tell city council "You failed us"
Aurora City Council fell one vote short of reopening discussion of a proposed indefinite moratorium on data center construction. Residents near the planned Trident data center criticized the council over potential water, pollution and neighborhood impacts, while the council continued work on regulations governing data center locations and setbacks.
Aurora residents voiced anger during a City Council meeting after members failed to suspend council rules to reopen debate on a proposed data center moratorium. The motion received six votes in favor and five against, one vote short of passage. Opponents said the planned Trident data center near homes in Green Valley Ranch could worsen water and pollution concerns and accused the council of ignoring their objections.
Councilwoman Amy Wiles, who originally proposed the pause, said the vote concerned whether to bring the moratorium back for discussion rather than whether to approve the moratorium itself. Mayor Mike Coffman said he would raise the issue at a future meeting, though Wiles said another vote would require support from a council member who voted against reopening it. The council also advanced a study of new data center regulations, including setbacks from residential neighborhoods.