DeSoto Planning Commission recommends stronger data center moratorium
The DeSoto County Planning Commission has recommended extending a moratorium on data center development from one to two years, applying it to two pending rezoning applications. This action comes amid community concerns about a proposed AI data center, and the county commissioners will vote on the ordinance later this month.
The DeSoto County Planning Commission has recommended extending a proposed moratorium on future data center development, a move that could temporarily pause the expansion of a planned artificial intelligence data center project. The existing moratorium, initially set for one year, is proposed to be extended to two years.
The unanimous recommendation by the planning commissioners also suggests applying this extended moratorium to two pending rezoning applications related to data center projects. This decision follows weeks of community discussions and concerns, particularly regarding the potential water usage of the proposed AI data center and its impact on rural DeSoto County. Local pastor Nathan Hedrickk expressed support for the two-year extension, citing the need for the county commission to thoroughly study the implications of such developments.
DCIP, the tech firm behind the proposed project, stated it is awaiting the final language of the ordinance and plans to continue engaging with community members to address their questions and concerns. The planning commission's vote serves only as a recommendation. The county's attorney will now draft the final ordinance language, which will then be presented to the DeSoto County Commissioners later this month for a definitive vote.