☐ Consent Agenda ☐Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing
☐ Regular Business 5:30 pm
☒ Public Hearing Other
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Zoning
SUBMITTED BY: Laura McClelland
PRESENTED BY: Valerie Vicente
TITLE & DESCRIPTION:
title
Data Center Moratorium Ordinance
body
REQUESTED MOTION:
Move to recommend to the Board approval of the Data Center Moratorium Ordinance as presented.
SUMMARY:
Pursuant to the Board direction given at the June 23, 2026 public meeting, the attached ordinance was prepared establishing a temporary one (1) year moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of development applications for Data Center Facilities within the unincorporated areas of DeSoto County. The moratorium is intended to preserve the status quo while the County evaluates the unique land use, infrastructure, utility, environmental, emergency services, and compatibility impacts associated with modern large-scale data center facilities and considers appropriate amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations. The ordinance recognizes recent state legislation acknowledging these unique planning considerations and allows the County time to review the forthcoming OPPAGA study and develop appropriate regulatory standards. The ordinance exempts the previously approved data center PUD (RZNE-0077-2025) and the two pending rezoning applications (RZNE-0086-2026 and RZNE-0087-2026), which will continue to be processed under existing County procedures.