Lake County planning board backs 12-month moratorium on data center permits

The Lake County Planning & Zoning Board voted to recommend a temporary moratorium that would pause acceptance, review or approval of applications, permits or rezonings for data centers in unincorporated Lake County for a period of 12 months or until the county adopts code amendments addressing data center impacts. "The ordinance establishes a temporary moratorium on the construction, expansion of and the issuance of building permits... for data centers, facilities within the unincorporated area of Lake County," planning manager Janie Burrow said during the staff presentation.

Board members said the pause gives staff time to study the effects on groundwater, electrical infrastructure and land use and to prepare amendments. Kathleen Bridal, executive director of the county's economic development office, said there have been inquiries but no active applications that triggered the moratorium. Public commenters raised environmental and privacy concerns: Oscar Rodriguez said he was "very worried of the impact that any of these data centers can do on the environment" and Rick Carlins urged stricter limits. The board voted to approve staff's recommendation and forward the ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners for the Sept. 1 hearing.