Lyon County Commission to Consider Six-Month Data Center Moratorium
Lyon County Commissioners are drafting a six-month moratorium on data center and solar farm permit requests, influenced by public comments and rumors of a second data center project. The proposed moratorium aims to provide time to revise the county's zoning regulations. It is not expected to affect existing city projects like the Flint Hills Digital Campus.
The Lyon County Commission in Kansas is currently drafting a six-month moratorium on permit requests for new data centers and solar farms. The decision to pursue a temporary ban stemmed from public comments received during their weekly meeting and unconfirmed rumors about a potential second data center project in the county. Commissioner Chris Bartel initially proposed a 10-day "stopgap" before the commission directed Legal Counsel Molly Priest to develop the longer moratorium, which is scheduled for consideration next Thursday.
Commission Chairman Ken Duft supported the moratorium, citing inadequate county zoning regulations to manage such developments. Although not directly targeting city projects, the moratorium's development was influenced by the ongoing discussions around the Flint Hills Digital Campus in Emporia. Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking confirmed the county's proposed moratorium would not impact city projects, including the Flint Hills Digital Campus, which has been under discussion for approximately eight months prior to its June announcement.
If approved, the six-month period will be used to review and revise the county's zoning regulations concerning data centers and solar farms. Both Bartel and Duft have indicated their expectation that the moratorium will pass. KVOE News has sought further details from County Counselor Priest.