Cave City approves second reading for data center moratorium
Cave City has officially enacted a 12-month moratorium on new data centers and IT infrastructure facilities, following a 4-1 council vote. This decision came after a previous meeting where a proposed zoning ordinance for data centers was rejected, and amid strong community opposition. The city plans to form a committee to research legal options and develop a more permanent solution with county planning and zoning officials.
The Cave City Council has officially enacted a 12-month moratorium on data centers and IT infrastructure facilities seeking to locate within the city limits. The decision was made during a special-called meeting on Wednesday, May 20, where the second reading of the moratorium ordinance was approved in a 4-1 vote. Councilman Denny Doyle cast the sole dissenting vote, while Councilwoman Beverly Ford was absent.
This action follows a contentious meeting the previous week where the council rejected a proposed zoning ordinance that aimed to regulate future data center projects. Instead of adopting the ordinance, council members opted for a temporary moratorium to allow time for further research and the formation of a committee. Community members filled the council chambers for both meetings, expressing significant opposition to data centers and advocating for a permanent ban on such facilities. Councilwoman Leticia Cline noted that the moratorium provides the city with time to investigate legal avenues for restricting or prohibiting these facilities altogether.
The newly formed committee will collaborate with the Joint City-County Planning Commission to explore long-term solutions. Mayor Dwayne Hatcher confirmed he is not aware of any active data center applications currently within Cave City.