The Zephyrhills City Council voted unanimously Monday to temporarily halt new data center development, joining a growing number of Florida communities taking a cautious approach to the industry’s rapid expansion.
The council approved a first reading of a one-year moratorium that would pause the issuance of building permits, rezonings, and site plan approvals for data center facilities. A second reading is scheduled for June 22.
City Manager Billy Poe said no developer has approached Zephyrhills with a data center proposal. Rather, the action was prompted by what city leaders have observed elsewhere — municipalities across Florida issuing similar moratoriums or actively reviewing plans for new facilities.
Poe noted that the city’s current land development code lacks specific guidance on where data centers can be located or how they should be designed and operated. The moratorium is intended to give officials time to study the issue before any applications come in.
The facilities, Poe said during the meeting, place significant demands on electricity, water, and utility infrastructure — concerns that warrant a closer look before Zephyrhills opens the door to them.
“Give us the time to not make a rash decision,” Poe said. “But learn all the facts and see if the impacts really are as impactful as they say they are, and if they are, put the regulations in place.”
Citrus County is among the other local governments in the region that have considered a similar moratorium on data center development.
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