The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners voted on May 19 to impose a 10-month moratorium on the development and rezoning of new data centers in the county. The decision excludes land already zoned for data centers through a Planned Development, as long as such facilities are at least 1,500 feet from any dwelling.
The move is intended to give county officials time to study how data centers might affect areas known as the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), water supply, environmental quality, and public health. “It’s critical for us to evaluate how data centers will interact with the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), our water supply, the environment and our community’s overall health,” Jefferson County Commissioner Rachel Zenzinger said. “This moratorium is a necessary pause for us to gather that information.”
Russell Clark, Planning Manager for Jefferson County, said staff will use this period to examine approaches taken by other communities facing similar increases in demand for data center development. Commissioners acknowledged that while economic opportunities exist with new facilities, they must also consider possible environmental impacts.
“While we recognize the potential job growth of a new data center, commissioners must weigh the impact on our community,” Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper said. “The next 10 months will allow us to work closely with our community and staff to gather input and develop thoughtful county policies.”
Data centers require significant electricity and water resources—often straining local infrastructure—and can increase utility costs for residents. This has led many jurisdictions nationwide, including Denver, to issue temporary bans ranging from six months up to one year.
“There’s an increase in demand for data centers, but modern-day data centers come with a variety of considerations. In Jeffco, our land, water and energy are our most cherished resources, and we want to ensure that we are being responsible caretakers of those resources,” Commissioner Andy Kerr said.
