The Palm Springs City Council will consider Wednesday extending a temporary moratorium on data center applications for nearly two years while the city studies potential regulations for such facilities.
Council members unanimously approved an urgency ordinance Aug. 26 temporarily prohibiting “the acceptance, processing or approval of applications and permits related to data centers” for 45 days, according to a city staff report. The ordinance is scheduled to expire Oct. 10.
City staff is recommending that the council extend the moratorium by 22 months and 15 days.
The city’s municipal and zoning codes do not currently provide definitions or regulations for data centers and their uses, and the city has no policies in effect governing such facilities, according to the report.
The Department of Planning Services said it needs additional time to analyze data centers and their potential impacts and develop land-use regulations as part of the city’s ongoing zoning code update.
“Additional time is necessary to thoughtfully and thoroughly review these land uses both internally and with the community,” according to the staff report.
The council meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.