Data centers continue to be front and center.
Tuesday morning, Boulder County commissioners unanimously voted to pause processing of applications for new data centers and detention centers for six months. They also agreed to begin work to change the land use code for both.
As attention on data centers and immigration continues to intensify, commissioners are trying to prevent the same conflict many communities are trying to retroactively resolve. Commissioners’ primary concern is that Boulder County Code has gaps that may allow the development of data and detention centers on land never intended to support such facilities.
Cracks in the code:
A definition for data centers or detention centers as specific uses
The scale at which either are appropriate
The zoning districts where either may occur
Commissioners are also interested in banning both in unincorporated Boulder County.
Looking ahead:
Staff will use the moratorium to write and publicly review amendments to the code, which should be complete within the six-month timeframe.
The three-person board will return within 30 days for a public hearing where members can decide to keep, change, or end the moratorium.