Caddo Parish commission rejects pause on data center construction
The Caddo Parish Commission rejected a resolution that would have asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider pausing data center construction. The 6-4 vote highlights the current lack of zoning rules in unincorporated areas of Caddo Parish, which allows companies like Amazon to build without local restrictions. Future discussions on zoning changes remain uncertain.
The Caddo Parish Commission recently voted 6 to 4 against a resolution that sought to ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider a pause on data center construction. The vote occurred during the commission's meeting on August 31, 2026, with two members absent.
Stephen Jean of the Metropolitan Planning Commission clarified that most of Caddo Parish lacks specific zoning laws, particularly in its unincorporated areas. This absence of zoning means that companies, such as Amazon, can proceed with data center development without local restrictions. Although the commission rejected the resolution for a moratorium consideration, the article notes that zoning changes were not part of the discussion at that specific meeting. It remains uncertain when commissioners might revisit potential changes to the parish's zoning regulations.