Westover council postpones data center moratorium, proposes town hall
The Westover City Council postponed a vote on a six-month data center moratorium, opting instead to host a town hall on August 20th to allow residents to discuss their concerns. The developer, Swift Willow Property LLC, has verbally agreed to pause development for 45 days. The property for the potential data center was previously rezoned to EC-1 and then purchased by Swift Willow Property LLC.
The Westover City Council has postponed a vote on a six-month moratorium on data center construction, following a request from Mayor Bobby Pardue to host a town hall for residents to voice their concerns. The special-called meeting on Thursday, Aug. 6, saw council members initially express apprehension about delaying action, particularly Council member Michael Shirley, who feared the data center developer might proceed without a moratorium in place. City Attorney Grace Graham informed the council that the developer has verbally agreed to halt further action for at least 45 days and will attend the planned town hall.
Mayor Pardue emphasized the importance of public input, stating that a City Council meeting is not an appropriate forum for extended Q&A. The town hall, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20, will include representatives from the city, the data center, and Alabama Power, with a neutral moderator. The potential data center is planned for 448 acres along Highway 280. The property was rezoned from HC, EC-O, and RR to EC-1 (Employment Center-Industrial District) following a unanimous recommendation from the Westover Planning Commission in December 2024 and council approval in February 2025. Swift Willow Property LLC subsequently purchased the land for over $6.6 million in June 2025. Former Mayor Larry Riggins had previously noted the developer was awaiting engineering confirmations from Alabama Power for electricity and the Shelby County Water Authority for water supply.