Kalamazoo city commission approves data center moratorium
The Kalamazoo City Commission has approved a moratorium on new data center applications, which is now in effect. This action aims to provide a year for the city to develop comprehensive zoning code changes and protective guidelines for future high-tech developments. A public hearing is scheduled for the next meeting to formally embed the moratorium into the city's zoning and development code.
The Kalamazoo City Commission has formally approved a moratorium on data center applications, preventing City Hall from accepting new proposals. Although the moratorium is considered "in effect," the commission has scheduled a public hearing for its next meeting to integrate these changes into the city's zoning codes, solidifying its enforceability under state law.
Assistant City Planner Bobby Durkee stated that the previous action was merely a resolution and that embedding the moratorium into the zoning code will ensure its legal standing. Durkee anticipates that a one-year period will be sufficient to establish the necessary "guardrails" to safeguard the public from potential impacts of high-tech operations, should data centers propose building in Kalamazoo.
The city has previously utilized moratoriums to address regulatory challenges, including developing regulations for digital billboards and rewriting zoning codes for marijuana businesses.