Alliance City Council considers 18-month data center ban amid interest

Alliance City Council is contemplating an 18-month moratorium on new data center developments to allow time for a comprehensive study of their potential impacts. The Council's Property and Lands Committee voted on June 30 to draft legislation for this temporary ban and establish a sub-committee dedicated to data center issues. This initiative comes as Mayor Andy Grove disclosed that at least one company has expressed interest in developing a data center within the city, with the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce having received related presentations.

Concerns from both residents and council members are driving the proposed moratorium. Residents like Cheryl Parson, who lives near an I-2 industrial zone, voiced opposition to data centers in close proximity to homes. Councilwoman Sheila Cherry, chairwoman of the Property and Lands Committee, emphasized the need to protect residents, dispel rumors, and amend existing I-2 zoning restrictions to include conditional uses for data centers. She highlighted that previous legislation, approved in mid-June, restricted data centers to I-2 zones but without sufficient conditions.

Law Director Andrew Selwa initially drafted legislation for a 12-month ban, but Councilwoman Cherry advocated for an 18-month period, arguing it would be necessary to properly address all concerns. Councilman Phillip Mastroianni, while not supporting a moratorium, stated he would accept it if approved, emphasizing the need to balance economic opportunity with community protection. Cherry and Mastroianni will co-lead the new sub-committee, planning workshops and public discussions to further explore the issue.