Geneva council imposes moratoria on data-center and cannabis permits and approves a package of emergency ordinances and resolutions

The City of Geneva council on June 8 adopted temporary moratoria on planning approvals for two contentious development types and approved a series of emergency measures addressing the city’s near-term projects and finances.

On a vote taken during the meeting, council passed Ordinance 3415, imposing a 12-month moratorium on acceptance and processing of zoning and occupancy permit applications for data centers in the city. Council also passed Ordinance 3416, establishing a six-month moratorium on zoning and occupancy applications for cannabis operations. Both ordinances were advanced under emergency procedures after council members voted to waive the three-reading rule.

Council members discussed consistency in moratorium durations during debate. One council member said the body should align moratorium lengths and avoid piecemeal approaches as the administration and planning commission craft appropriate zoning language.

The meeting also included passage of Ordinance 3517 to amend the city’s 2026 budget through appropriations and fund transfers, and a group of resolutions (Nos. 3671–3675) authorizing then-and-now certificates, a county partnership for the PY 2026 Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) grant, a work authorization with Verdantis for the 2026 road program, and applications for WPCLF and water-supply revolving loan funds for sewer and water projects.

Council used roll-call voting for the emergency declarations and final passage on each item; the clerk recorded roll-call votes for each ordinance and resolution during the meeting.

What happens next: The council directed planning/zoning staff and the planning commission to draft proposed zoning language and review other communities’ ordinances to inform permanent regulations for data centers and cannabis operations; council members targeted committee work in August with formal proposals later this year.