The Murray City Council formally began consideration of proposed data center regulations Thursday, holding the first reading of text amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance. After weeks of lengthy meetings and public debate, the special called meeting lasted barely eight minutes, with only two items on the agenda and no vote required on the ordinance at its first reading.
The debate around data centers erupted locally after the Murray Planning Commission announced a special called meeting June 2 for the purpose of holding the nonpublic hearing to review proposed text amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance to regulate data centers.
At another special called meeting June 9, the commission held the public hearing on the ordinance – a nearly two-hour proceeding attended by more than 100 people. Ultimately, the commissioners voted 6-1 to revise the draft, incorporating the feedback, and reconvene in two weeks to review it before advancing it.
When the proposed ordinance did not reach the council in time for its June 11 regular meeting, council members adopted a resolution imposing a one-week moratorium on applications for data centers and similar businesses.
The resolution also directed the planning commission to advance the existing draft ordinance, along with the feedback received during the public hearing, for a first reading before the council Thursday.
But the commission went further at its regular meeting Tuesday, making numerous revisions that incorporated those comments and suggestions before unanimously advancing the revised draft and forwarding the underlying public input to the council.
Mayor Bob Rogers began the meeting with a short mayor’s report. He called attention to new language included at the end of the draft. Without specifically using the word, the added provision essentially extended the moratorium.
“It is our intent to publicly provide notice that no permits or applications within the City of Murray will be approved or accepted while this ordinance is being considered for final approval by the city council,” he said after reading the provision.
Rogers announced the council will hold its own public hearing on the ordinance at a special called meeting Thursday, July 16.
He encouraged members of the council to review their entire packet – not just the draft ordinance, but also the summary of public feedback and suggestions the commission received June 9.
The council packets also contained a letter from Raegan Settle, a Murray native who spoke during the public hearing, and a letter from Sara Fineman, chair of the KY Sierra Club Great Rivers Group. Fineman’s letter included an 11-page report from the Sierra Club on state policies to mitigate the impact data centers can have on the environment, communities and utility rates.
In addition, Rogers invited the public to review the proposed ordinance, noting it can be found on the city’s website or requested by emailing cityclerk@murrayky.gov.
Although the council will hold its next regular meeting Thursday, July 9, at 6 p.m., the proposed data center ordinance will not be on that agenda.
Rogers assured the public that no action will be taken on the matter until after the public hearing July 16. After consideration of the comments, he said, the council could pass the ordinance as written or modify it to incorporate recommendations from the public.
After the meeting, Rogers clarified that if significant modifications were required, the council would hold another first reading before passage.
A second reading and roll-call vote will take place no later than Aug. 13.
View or download the full packet given to members of the council Thursday below.
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