LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Tuesday’s city council meeting started with a comment from a Lubbock resident.
She thanked council members for being open to the conversation surrounding data centers within city limits, while also asking them to continue filling the public in on what’s going on.
“We want transparency throughout the entire process,” Jordan said. “We want to know the results of the studies, we want to know what the experts say, we want to know how you plan to enforce those regulations.”
Transparency became a key point during this session. When it came to the public hearing regarding an 18-month moratorium on data centers in Lubbock, some citizens said it didn’t go far enough.
“I don’t want an 18-month moratorium,” David said, “I want us to collectively say no to this.”
While others feel the last month or so has provided a healthier relationship between city council and residents on this topic.
“We look forward to working with y’all in trying to get some real thing that not only can protect Lubbock but make the people of Lubbock be more seen and more heard,” John said.
In the end, a non-binding resolution was unanimously passed inside the city council chambers. This resolution, proposed by District 6 Councilman Tim Collins, states large-scale data centers will not be developed within city limits until council has adopted regulations protecting public resources, public health, and safety.
“We will have handcuffs,” Collins said. “We will have the very things that you folks have asked for. We’re going to know and have responsibility and repercussion to those handcuffs and ensure we’re going to, if allowed, that they will be something that fits within our common framework and mindset.”
Mayor Mark McBrayer says a lot of work has been done internally about data centers, including a potential official moratorium ordinance. City council members plan to meet with the planning and zoning commission this Thursday to propose development standards, with more to come September 22 at the next city meeting.
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