DeSoto County Planning Commission Recommends Two-Year Data Center Moratorium
The DeSoto County Planning Commission unanimously recommended a two-year moratorium on future data center development, including two pending rezoning applications for a large AI data center expansion. This decision, driven by community pushback over water and power usage concerns, will be considered by the DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners on July 28. The already-approved first phase of the project can proceed, but future phases are on hold.
The DeSoto County Planning Commission has unanimously recommended a two-year moratorium on new data center development, a significant escalation from the initially proposed one-year freeze. The decision, made on Tuesday night, also includes two pending rezoning applications tied to a substantial artificial intelligence data center expansion.
This recommendation effectively pauses the expansion of a project by DCIP Group that has generated considerable community pushback. Concerns about water consumption, power demand, and broader environmental impacts have been central to the opposition. While the initial 34-acre phase of the project, which was previously approved, can still move forward, subsequent phases two and three are now subject to the proposed moratorium.
Arcadia Pastor Nathan Headrick, who has closely followed the proposal, expressed pleasant surprise at the two-year recommendation, viewing it as an opportunity for county leaders to conduct thorough due diligence. DCIP Group, the developer, indicated it is awaiting the final ordinance language and continuing community discussions.
The Planning Commission's recommendation now heads to the DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners for a final vote on July 28, where commissioners will decide whether to adopt this more cautious approach.