By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
After nearly two hours of discussion and repeated outbursts from a standing-room-only crowd, the Cave City City Council voted Monday night to reject a proposed zoning amendment regulating prospective data centers and instead advanced a one-year moratorium on heavy industrial development within city limits.
The proposed ordinance would have amended city zoning regulations to include language and restrictions specifically governing prospective data centers and other high-impact industrial uses.
An unprecedented crowd lined the seats, walls and halls, many attending specifically for the ordinance’s first reading. Throughout the meeting audience members repeatedly voiced opposition to data center development, at one point prompting mayor Dwayne Hatcher to call for order after chants of “Cave City says no” broke out from the crowd.
“It has nothing to do with if they [data centers] come,” city attorney Bobby Richardson explained to the council. “If you vote ‘yes’ there will be restrictions on any data centers that might come here. If you vote ‘no’ there are no restrictions.”
Richardson went on to explain that the ordinance would not be amendable by the council, rather it would go back to the Joint City-County Planning Commission. The ordinance would then go through the commission’s review process, which would take an estimated 90 to 120 days, according to planning commission Director Kevin Myatt.
At this time, some of the more impassioned members of the crowd voiced their dissent to the ordinance, with a rallying call of “Cave City says no.” This led mayor Dwayne Hatcher to remind the crowd that proper decorum should be followed.
After the crowd had settled, Councilwoman Leticia Cline offered a third option the city could embrace.
“I would like us to put a temporary moratorium on accepting, processing and the approval of applications of data centers and high impact industrial uses in the city,” she said. “That means simply that no data center can apply for a permit for one year.”
Cline cited a similar approach adopted by Meade County to halt data center development in January.
Hatcher asked that the council hear from its listed speakers before voting on the current ordinance or any other motions.
David Peterson noted that all industrial development in the county and beyond will place more strain on the infrastructure of the communities they move into, but that should a community wish to grow economically, restrictions and discussions need to be held. Gage Wilson/For Glasgow News 1
First to speak was Chief Executive Officer of the Caveland Environmental Authority and Barren Inc. Chairman David Peterson.
“If an industry comes in anywhere in the city, the developer is responsible for paying for the water and sewer, or upgrades if it’s required,” he said. “I want rules and regulations to control whatever it is that we do or don’t want.”
Peterson went on to talk about the effect Tate Inc. would have on the area’s economy and its relationship to data center manufacturing. Tate bought the former R. R. Donnelley building in Glasgow last year.
“They created 400 jobs,” he said. “So before we go all out ‘kill mode’ here let’s just stop and think.”
Before exiting the podium he spoke on the job growth of Cave City listing industries that have moved in, the last of which was Tekno Inc., which moved to the area in the 1990s.
He finished his comments by asking community members to keep an open mind to “jobs, growth and the future here.”
Another speaker, Sammy Jo Estes, struck a similar chord as she asked the audience how many had phones, streaming services or cloud backups.
Sammy Jo Estes drew on her family’s history in the area spanning decades as she spoke at the Cave City City Council meeting Monday night. Gage Wilson/For Glasgow News 1
“Unfortunately, in the world we live in, data centers are being built across the U.S,” she said. “Tonight’s meeting is not about yes or no on data centers…strong permitted restrictions must be put in place to protect our town as much as we possibly can.”
Estes explained that should the council vote no on the proposal it would open up the city to centers moving to the area with impunity.
“We have to set a precedent that there are restrictions when coming to our community with any industry,” she said. “You don’t just get to walk in and open whatever you want to, we can’t stop the sale of private land, but what we can do is have faith in our council to provide restrictions on these companies.”
As Estes finished her comments, Cline took the opportunity to say that the council, including herself, could have been more proactive on this subject.
“We all know data centers are coming, and sadly I just never thought that anyone would think of putting in one here,” she said.
Cline went on to talk about the language changed in the ordinance that removed a section in which a prospective industrial project, like a data center, would have to go to the board of adjustments, a regulatory body composed of citizens.
This subject was broached earlier with a wider question posed by councilman Andrew Bagshaw about the change from “conditional use” to “permitted use” in the ordinance.
“As a conditional use, that would go before a local board, your board of adjustments…they would make the decision,” explained Myatt. “What you can get into sometimes is they may have some arbitrary issues with a certain person that can filter into their decision making and thus possible litigation can arise from that.”
“If you have clear black and white stipulations that’s placed on permitted use, it is an even playing field for anyone that comes forth,” he said. “Anytime you place regulations or stipulations on a specific use, any entity that comes into your city limits that wants to build has to adhere to whatever those stipulations are.”
Several attendees in the audience were authorized to speak by council members , with nearly all stating that they were against any heavy industry moving to the city, with all nodding to the proximity of Mammoth Cave as a point of defense to having an industry known for its resource consumption moving to the area.
With only one council member absent, Beverly Ford, Hatcher called the council to vote on the ordinance amending the city’s zoning, which was rejected 1-4 with councilman Denny Doyle being the solitary vote to adopt the restrictions.
Cline again motioned that the city place a one-year moratorium on the approval of heavy industry moving to the city, which passed 4-1 with Doyle being the sole dissenting vote.
The acceptance of Cline’s plan was met with cheers and applause from the room.
The council is expected to hold a second reading for the moratorium at a special-called meeting Thursday, May 14 at 5 p.m.
Key facts:
– Cave City Council rejected a proposed zoning amendment aimed at regulating data centers and high-impact industrial uses.
– The vote on the zoning amendment was 4-1 against, with Councilman Denny Doyle the only member in favor.
– The council instead backed Councilwoman Leticia Cline’s proposal for a one-year moratorium on heavy industrial development.
– The moratorium would halt accepting, processing and approving applications for data centers and similar heavy industry in city limits.
– Residents packed city hall, chanting “Cave City says no” during the debate over potential data center development.
– City attorney Bobby Richardson said voting yes would impose restrictions on data centers, while voting no would leave no new restrictions.
– Speakers urged the council to balance job growth, infrastructure needs and strong regulations.
– A second reading of the moratorium is expected at a special council meeting Thursday, May 14, at 5 p.m.
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