Hayden Town Council eyes data center moratorium after public pushback
The Hayden Town Council is considering an emergency ordinance to implement a moratorium on data centers after residents expressed significant concerns about water usage, health, environmental impacts, and the transparency of the town's development code amendment. This follows a recent council vote to add specific language for data centers to the municipal code, making them an allowed use in heavy industrial zones with certain limitations. Residents have circulated a petition and urged the council to enact a three-year moratorium or even prohibit data centers entirely.
The Hayden Town Council is planning to prepare an emergency ordinance for its next meeting to implement a moratorium on data centers following strong public opposition. Over a dozen residents spoke out at a recent public hearing, raising concerns about potential water use, public health, environmental impacts, and the lack of transparency surrounding the council's decision to add data center language to its development code.
The council had previously voted 4-1 on August 6 to amend Section 10.03.05 of the development code, explicitly listing data centers as an allowed use within the heavy industrial category, albeit with limitations on size, power demands, and other requirements. Mayor Ryan Banks clarified that no specific data center project is currently proposed for Hayden, and denied any undisclosed agreements, but acknowledged community mistrust stemming from similar discussions in Moffat County.
Residents like Timothy Boyle and JJ Pike questioned the economic benefits of data centers for Hayden, particularly given the upcoming closure of Hayden Station and existing vacant commercial units. Commenters including Tracy Tydeman and Ericka Lucas highlighted potential negative consequences such as increased utility costs, water contamination risks, noise pollution, health threats, and the town's ability to hold large companies accountable. Many requested a three-year moratorium, with some, like Lacey Williams, pushing for an outright prohibition of data centers in the code.
Mayor Banks expressed the importance of having rules in place for any development and balancing risk with reward, especially given the community's economic challenges since the Hayden Station closure announcement. He tasked Town Manager Mathew Mendisco with preparing an emergency ordinance for a moratorium to be discussed at the September 17 meeting.