Post updated at 10:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 9:
Public commenters urged the Lawrence City Commission to adopt a temporary moratorium on data center development while the city studies the issue and creates permanent regulations.
The commission does not generally take immediate action on public comment. Near the end of their meeting during commission items, however, commissioners agreed to ask city staff members to bring back a formal moratorium for them to consider within 30 days.
About 50 people attended Tuesday’s public comment period, with some overflowing into the City Hall lobby.
Several speakers said a moratorium would protect residents from unwanted developments near neighborhoods and farmland.
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Some expressed concern that large-scale data centers could strain water and electricity supplies, increase noise and light pollution and alter the character of surrounding land.
Holly Krebs, lead organizer with advocacy group Coalition for Collaborative Governance, said the city’s current land development code allows data centers in industrial zones without commission approval or use-specific standards, leaving questions about impacts on water, electricity, noise and light pollution.
“The city’s current code allows owners of industrial zone properties in Lawrence to construct data centers by right without commission approval or public hearing,” Krebs said.
She said Senate Bill 98 has accelerated interest in data center projects across Kansas, making local action more urgent. Krebs also pointed out that some neighboring counties have already adopted moratoriums, and she said that Lawrence should do the same before any project moves forward.
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Dominique Sexton said the moratorium would give city staff and commissioners time to gather information and draft regulations.
“I just want to emphasize that a moratorium would be temporary under the discretion of the commission,” Sexton said. “A neutral action that does not allow or disallow data centers long-term.”
Tad Kramar warned that the city could face legal troubles if it did not act. He also added that city staff needed time to consider regulations tied to energy, water use, noise and setbacks.
“I really encourage you to enact a moratorium as soon as possible on cryptocurrency mining and data centers,” he said.
Commissioners had agreed last month to ask staff to look into what they can do about data centers, including potentially a moratorium, following a work session about the land development code.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
Read her complete bio here. Read her work for the Times at this link, and see her photography for the Times at this link.
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