The Eureka City Council on Oct. 6 adopted Bill 1063-C.S., extending the city’s moratorium on the siting of data centers for 10 months and 15 days beyond an initial 45-day moratorium.
The action followed a public hearing at which no one spoke, according to the archived council meeting. City Attorney Black told the council the extension would give the city more time to study data-center regulation. The ordinance uses electrical capacity as an interim measure, barring the siting of data centers with capacity greater than 1 megawatt.
During the discussion, Black said future zoning work would need to consider issues including facility size, aesthetics, water quality, electricity consumption and noise. The council’s action did not adopt permanent data-center zoning standards. The city has not announced a dated milestone for a draft zoning ordinance or other formal study schedule in the accessible public record.
The extension keeps the city’s data-center siting policy under review while officials develop potential standards. Prospective developers, property owners and residents should not treat the policy options discussed by officials as adopted zoning rules.
