CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte City Council is considering extending the city’s data center development moratorium by up to nine months following a recommendation from a key municipal committee.
The city is currently three months into an initial five-month pause on new data center projects while officials evaluate local regulations.
During a Tuesday meeting of the Transportation Planning and Development Committee, the city task force examining data center regulations requested additional time to gather community input, coordinate with state agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality, and study policies implemented by other municipalities.
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Charlotte to update data center regulations during ongoing moratorium ]
Task force members argued that any regulatory changes for future data centers must occur simultaneously.
Implementing rules in piecemeal fashion could trigger subsequent moratoriums and create an uncertain business environment, according to the task force.
Residents living near ongoing data center construction have expressed concerns about community input and potential health impacts.
Antoinette Mingo, a resident living less than two miles from a data center development on University City Boulevard, said she had little opportunity to learn about or weigh in on the project when it was approved in 2023.
Mingo urged city leaders to update local ordinances so future developments face greater scrutiny.
“There’s not enough attention and priority given to the health effects,” Mingo said. “They should not be in residential communities at all in my opinion.”
The proposed extension would not halt or slow projects already under construction, including the site near University City Boulevard.
Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera said she has received similar feedback from residents across the city over the past few months.
With a Nov. 5 deadline approaching for the city to address ordinance changes, Ajmera expressed concern that the remaining time is insufficient to address those community concerns thoroughly.
Ajmera emphasized the wide-ranging implications of data center regulations on municipal resources.
“This is going to have an impact on our pocketbooks, on our water, on our electricity grid, our neighborhoods, our quality of life, and that matters. And that’s why we have to take our time to get this right,” Ajmera said. “Charlotte should establish clear rules for our residents and our businesses to follow.”
To move forward with the extension, the Charlotte City Council must approve the committee’s recommendation and host a public hearing regarding the extended moratorium.
Following the public hearing, council members will vote on the proposed nine-month timeline.