Data center moratorium via resolution 'hold no legal weight' Caddo Parish Attorney says
Caddo Parish's attorney advised commissioners that their proposed moratorium on data center development via resolution holds no legal weight under the Louisiana Constitution. Residents voiced strong opposition to data centers, citing concerns about property values, health, environmental impact, and potential surveillance. The attorney suggested establishing a master plan with proper zoning ordinances as the legally viable path for regulation.
Caddo Parish Attorney Donna Frazier informed parish commissioners that their proposed two-year moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated areas cannot be enacted via a resolution, as the parish charter states resolutions do not have the force of law. She cited the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 and Louisiana Revised Statutes 33, explaining that attempting a moratorium without a master plan and zoning ordinances would be in violation.
Frazier advised that the proper path forward involves establishing a master plan, which would provide the legal framework to regulate land use. She noted that some form of a moratorium might be enacted during the master plan study period. The commissioners' resolutions, which also required environmental impact studies from developers, were voted back to committee.
Despite the legal hurdles, residents continued to express strong opposition to data centers, citing concerns about proximity to homes, property value depreciation, health impacts, and potential mass surveillance. One speaker, a naturalist, emphasized the environmental toll, specifically mentioning the impact on insects through habitat loss, noise, and light pollution, and criticized the lack of biological assessments or environmental impact statements prior to construction.