The Lochbuie Town Council approved a five-year moratorium on the development of data centers within town limits on Aug. 5, 2024 [1, 2].
This decision marks a significant shift in local land-use policy as the community grapples with the infrastructure demands and environmental impacts of the tech industry. The move represents the longest pause of its kind in Colorado [1].
Council members cited concerns regarding rapid growth and the specific impacts that data centers bring to a small municipality [1, 2]. The pause is intended to give the town time to evaluate how such facilities integrate with existing zoning, and resources. While the majority of the council supported the measure, the decision was not unanimous.
One councilmember argued that the five-year timeframe was too long [1, 2]. Despite this objection, the council moved forward with the five-year [1] duration rather than shorter alternatives suggested in other reports.
"The five-year timeframe was too long," the councilmember said [1].
The moratorium freezes new data center projects for the duration of the term, preventing the approval of new sites while the town reviews its long-term planning goals. Local officials have not yet detailed the specific criteria that would be required to lift the ban early, or the exact framework for the eventual return of these developments [1, 2].
“The Lochbuie Town Council approved a five-year moratorium on the development of data centers.”
Lochbuie's decision reflects a growing tension between the aggressive expansion of AI and cloud computing infrastructure and the capacity of small-town utilities and zoning laws to support them. By implementing the longest moratorium in the state, the town is prioritizing cautious urban planning over the immediate economic incentives typically offered by tech developers.
