The city of Lakeland has shared the text of a proposed ordinance that would create a temporary moratorium on data centers and large load electric customers using more than 50 megawatts a month.
The proposed ordinance was followed by a business impact estimate, provided in accordance with Section 166.041(4), Florida Statutes, which summarizes and clarifies details of the ordinance.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on Monday, July 6, at 9 a.m. in the City Commission Chamber at City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts Avenue.
The business impact estimate summarizes the moratorium established by the ordinance:
The proposed ordinance establishes a temporary moratorium of twelve (12) months on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of applications for Development Permits, Development Orders, and other City approvals that would authorize the establishment, construction, expansion, or intensification of a Data Center. The ordinance also directs City staff to review and prepare proposed amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, and other regulations addressing Data Centers and Large Load Customers.
The public purpose of the proposed ordinance is to preserve the status quo while the City evaluates appropriate land use classifications, development standards, infrastructure requirements, and utility impacts for these uses. The moratorium serves the public health, safety, and welfare by allowing time for technical analysis, utility coordination, public input, and adoption of appropriate regulations for Data Centers and Large Load Customers.
The business impact estimate clarifies that, “The moratorium does not impose compliance obligations on existing businesses and does not affect ordinary server rooms, computer rooms, or similar incidental IT infrastructure.”
Other details in the business impact estimate include:
- The city does not anticipate compliance costs for existing or prospective businesses.
- The proposed ordinance does not impose any new charge, fee, or regulatory costs.
- The proposed ordinance generates no revenue from fees or charges.
Because data centers are not currently permitted in the city by land use or zoning regulations and the city has no large load customers, the city expects the numbers of businesses impacted to be minimal.
The business impact estimate specifies that if adopted, the moratorium would be temporary and “does not determine whether Data Centers or Large Load Customers will ultimately be permitted, conditionally permitted, or prohibited.”
Anna Toms is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
