Lexington Urban County Council Extends Data Center Development Pause, Initiates New Zoning Process
Lexington's Urban County Council has voted to extend the moratorium on data center development in Fayette County until October 31, 2027. This decision follows a public hearing where nearly 60 residents voiced concerns regarding the environmental impact, electricity and water consumption, and potential health effects of these facilities. The Council is also moving forward with a resolution to establish a new zoning ordinance text amendment process, aiming to create a distinct zoning category for data centers. This new process will allow for more public engagement and a less constrained timeline compared to the previous Planning Commission recommendations. Councilmembers Tyler Morton and Emma Curtis spearheaded these resolutions, with Morton specifically moving to remove most of the Planning Commission's earlier recommendations, which had proposed allowing smaller data centers in industrial and commercial zones concentrated in District 1 and the city's northside.
