Restrictions on Lawrence data center development advised by planning commission
The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted 6-1 to recommend requiring special-use permits for data centers in the city's industrial zoning districts. The recommendation follows Lawrence's two-year data center moratorium and came amid public concerns about water use, electricity demand, agriculture and environmental impacts.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted 6-1 on Sept. 21, 2026, to recommend that the Lawrence City Commission require special-use permits for data centers proposed in industrial zoning districts. The process would bring projects before both commissions, allow public comment and enable officials to impose conditions; the City Commission will review the recommendation and related research before considering further restrictions, including a possible ban.
Lawrence enacted a two-year moratorium on data center development in July while city staff study potential regulations. Seventeen residents addressed the planning commission, with many calling for a complete ban and citing concerns about water, electricity, agriculture and the broader effects of artificial intelligence. Commissioner Gary Rexroad opposed the recommendation, saying it could burden businesses with smaller data centers, while other commissioners argued that additional review would give the community time to develop appropriate safeguards.