Caddo Commission rejects proposed data center moratorium
The Caddo Parish Commission voted 6-4 against advancing a proposed resolution for a data center construction moratorium. The resolution would have initiated a review process by the Planning and Zoning Commission, but commissioners opted not to send the request. Proponents cited public concern and potential overextension of data center companies.
Caddo Parish commissioners on Monday voted 6-4 to reject a proposed resolution that would have initiated a review process for a data center construction moratorium. The resolution aimed to ask the Caddo Parish Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) to consider a moratorium ordinance for new data centers within five miles of Shreveport in unincorporated Caddo Parish and then send a recommendation back to the commission for final approval.
Commissioner John-Paul Young, who introduced a similar resolution in August, expressed that there has been overwhelming public concern regarding data center construction. He suggested that the commission had already approved enough data centers with a previous tax plan and urged a "pause" on potential new projects, citing concerns about data center companies being "extremely overextended." Young clarified that the vote was not on enacting a moratorium itself but merely on requesting the PZC to consider one and provide a recommendation.
Commissioner Chris Kracman voiced his preference for sending more matters to the PZC, praising their deliberation process and their members as unincorporated-area residents who are not politically involved. However, the commission ultimately declined to advance the proposal, meaning the request for a moratorium consideration will not proceed to the PZC at this time.