A temporary ban on the development of new data centers in Rochester is being proposed.
The Rochester City Council will be asked Monday to adopt a temporary ordinance setting a moratorium on development to allow city planning staff to study the issue and potentially propose new regulations.
“City teammates have determined that although the Unified Development Code imposes regulations on numerous types of uses throughout the city, it does not clearly impose rules or regulations related to data centers,” Community Development planner Elliot Mohler wrote in a report to the council.
Under the proposed moratorium, data centers will include a building or other facility used principally for the storage, management, processing or transmission of digital data, which houses computer or network equipment, systems, services, appliances or other associated components related to digital data operations.
The ban could include accessory and appurtenant facilities, such as offices, air handlers, power generators, water cooling systems and water storage facilities, as well as utility substations and other associated infrastructure.
About the meeting…
The issue is scheduled to be addressed as part of a public hearing during Monday’s council meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. in council chambers of the city-county Government Center.
The hearing allows an opportunity for public comment on the proposed moratorium before the council makes a decision.
If it approves the temporary moratorium, it will be implemented immediately following official notice.
At that point, staff plans to begin a comprehensive study, which is expected to include efforts to gauge community opinions regarding data centers.