ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. – Another Tampa Bay community is looking at pushing pause on data center development.
The Zephyrhills City Council has approved a first reading of a temporary moratorium on the facilities.
City Manager Billy Poe said the city has not been approached as the possible location of a new center. He said the moratorium is inspired by what leaders at city hall have seen happening around Florida, with some local governments issuing moratoriums and other communities looking at actual plans for data centers to be built.
On Monday night, the city council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on issuing building permits, re-zonings, site plans, and more when it comes to data centers.
Poe read an agenda memo during the meeting that said these facilities use a lot of electricity, water, utility infrastructure, and more. It said right now, the city’s land development code doesn’t address specifics like where the centers can be located or anything about their design or operation.
This pause is meant to give the city time to review its regulations.
“Give us the time to not make a rash decision,” Poe said. “But learn all the facts and see if the impacts really are as impactful as they say they are, and if they are, put the regulations in place.”
A second reading of the moratorium ordinance is planned for June 22.