Virginia Beach weighs a 1-year moratorium on data centers
The Virginia Beach City Council is set to vote on a proposed one-year moratorium on new data center permits. Mayor Bobby Dyer has advocated for banning large-scale data centers, citing concerns about their impact on the community. City staff recommended the moratorium to allow time for research and the drafting of a new zoning ordinance for data centers, as current regulations do not specifically address them.
The Virginia Beach City Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday whether to enact a temporary moratorium on permits for new data centers within the city. The proposed ban, championed by Mayor Bobby Dyer, would last for 12 months or until the council finalizes a new ordinance to regulate data centers.
Mayor Dyer has been a vocal opponent of large-scale data centers, stating at a June 2 council meeting, "These things are not good neighbors. I wouldn't want to live near one." His position reflects a broader concern among cities nationwide regarding the rapid development of data centers.
In April, the city's Planning Commission suggested exploring new land use regulations for data centers, as their specific use is not currently defined in Virginia Beach's zoning ordinance. Although the City Council initially instructed staff to prepare an amendment to ban all large data centers, staff later determined that there are no established industry standards or best practices to guide such a ban.
Consequently, staff recommended implementing a moratorium on new data center permits. This pause would provide city officials with the necessary time to conduct thorough research and develop a comprehensive new zoning ordinance tailored to address the unique requirements and impacts of data centers, including their high demand for electricity, backup power systems, and water for cooling.