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City Council · October 20, 2026
Lavon Advances Data Center Moratorium After Residents Sound Alarm
Lavon's proposed data center moratorium drew another round of pointed public comments during the October 20 City Council meeting, as residents pressed for stronger protections before any large-scale project can move forward. Concerns ranged from noise and power demand to fire safety, water use, property values and development near existing neighborhoods.
Council ultimately advanced the moratorium ordinance through its first reading. City staff stressed, however, that the October 20 action did not put the moratorium into effect that night.
City Says No Data Center Application Has Been Filed
Before opening the public hearing, city staff stressed that Lavon does not currently have a data center and has not received a site plan, plat, building permit or formal data center development application. Staff also said no economic development incentives have been offered, provided or approved for a data center project.
The proposed moratorium was drafted to apply across the city's entire 5.26 square miles. Staff said the city has been working on possible safeguards since the summer but wants to proceed carefully because data centers are not broadly permitted under Lavon's existing zoning rules outside certain planned developments.
Earlier Developer Meeting Fuels Transparency Questions
During the hearing, a resident said recently obtained public records showed that city officials had participated in a pre-application meeting involving a potential data center developer. She acknowledged that no formal application had been filed but argued that the earlier discussions showed development interest had progressed far enough to warrant stronger safeguards.
The comments also renewed criticism over how quickly information has reached the public. The resident said she and others had submitted numerous public information requests while trying to understand previous discussions and urged officials to move beyond assurances that safeguards were being developed. Those transparency criticisms represented the resident's position, not a finding by the city.
Residents Want Safeguards Ready As Moratorium Moves Forward
Several residents argued that the proposed moratorium should be used to establish detailed rules before development activity can advance. Earlier during citizen comments, a proposed noise and vibration ordinance was raised that would address continuous sources such as cooling fans, transformers and generators and require monitoring of noise and vibration levels.
Another nearby homeowner said she had introduced proposed light and heavy industrial safeguards about six weeks earlier because she lives roughly half a mile from the area discussed for a data center. She said she wanted protections in place before anything breaks ground and expressed concern about how industrial development could affect her home and surroundings.
A resident involved in developing the moratorium proposal later urged the city to rely on engineers and other professionals with direct data center expertise. He described the proposed structure as an initial 90-day moratorium with the possibility of another 90-day extension and said safeguards should be completed before that temporary window ultimately closes. The October 20 vote did not start that period.
Fire, Noise And Nearby Homes Dominate The Hearing
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