By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
Cave City has officially passed a 12-month moratorium on any data centers or IT infrastructure facilities seeking to move into the city.
The action comes after a contentious meeting last week in which the council rejected a proposed zoning ordinance that would have added language regulating future data center projects within city limits. Rather than adopting the ordinance, council members instead proposed the moratorium as a temporary measure while the council forms a committee to work alongside county planning and zoning officials on a more permanent solution.
The five-minute special-called meeting Wednesday, May 20, featured only one item on the agenda — the second reading of the moratorium ordinance, which became official upon approval.
Community members once again filled council chambers to voice opposition to the possibility of data centers locating within the city. While many attendees celebrated the moratorium’s passage, several also expressed a desire to see a permanent ban on such facilities.
Councilwoman Leticia Cline said the moratorium would give the city time to conduct further research and determine what legal options may exist to restrict or potentially prohibit the facilities altogether.
With councilwoman Beverly Ford absent due to medical reasons, the council approved the moratorium in a 4-1 vote, with councilman Denny Doyle casting the lone dissenting vote.
As the meeting adjourned, attendees approached Mayor Dwayne Hatcher to ask whether any applications for data centers are currently active within the city.
“There are none that I am aware of,” Hatcher said.
The next step will be the formation of a committee to work with the Joint City-County Planning Commission to further research the facilities and determine what actions Cave City can legally take moving forward.
Key facts:
– Cave City Council approves second reading of a 12-month moratorium on data centers and IT infrastructure facilities
– Special called meeting Wednesday, May 20, lasted about five minutes and focused solely on the moratorium ordinance
– Council vote was 4-1, with Councilman Denny Doyle dissenting and Councilwoman Beverly Ford absent for medical reasons
– Moratorium follows a contentious earlier meeting where a proposed zoning ordinance to regulate data centers was rejected
– Community members again filled council chambers, many opposing the idea of data centers in the city and some seeking a permanent ban
– Councilwoman Leticia Cline says the moratorium allows time to research legal options to regulate or potentially prohibit facilities
– A new committee will work with the Joint City-County Planning Commission on long-term rules for data centers
– Mayor Dwayne Hatcher said he is not aware of any active data center applications in Cave City
