Southport adopts 15-month moratorium on data-center approvals

The Southport Board of Aldermen adopted an ordinance imposing a 15-month moratorium on development approvals for data centers and similar digital information uses within the city's corporate limits. Planning Director Maureen Meehan introduced the item as a pause that would "provide Southport time to evaluate impacts and develop new land use categories and standards for data centers and similar uses," citing statutory authority for temporary moratoria. After public comment and a presentation from the planning board chair, the board voted to adopt the moratorium.

Planning Board Chair Lawrence Ashley told the aldermen that while Southport has not seen a formal application, city officials should account for new industry models, including smaller "edge" or micro data centers and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. "To this day, we continue to be unaware of any proposed data center seeking to locate in Southport," Ashley said, but he urged forward-looking zoning to avoid surprise development. The motion to adopt the 15-month moratorium was moved by Alderman Marcella and seconded; the chair recorded the motion as carried unanimously.