The Indianapolis City-County Council Monday advanced a proposal pausing new data center approvals in Marion County through 2027. The move follows months of protests over the facilities' energy, water and noise impacts.
The council members voted 23-1 to approve the moratorium, sending it to the Metropolitan Development Commission, which could give final approval as east as Aug. 19.
But the pause wouldn't delay or stop the three data center projects that have drawn the most community opposition so far and already approved: DC Blox in Warren Township, Metrobloks in Martindale-Brightwood and Sabey in Decatur Township.
All three are exempt from the pause, according to the city's data center information page.
During Monday's meeting, Councilor Jesse Brown attempted to add a proposal to the agenda that would remove members of the Metropolitan Development Commission. Brown said some of the commissioners ignored communities by approving data centers to be built in the city. The council rejected considering it 7-17.
What's in the proposal
The measure, known as Proposal 238, amends a broader zoning ordinance the city has been developing since April to regulate data centers for the first time. '
The moratorium would stop new data center permitting until at least Dec. 31, 2027. A committee of experts and residents would study campus size, building height, environmental impacts and sound levels.
Councilors also added a floor amendment Monday defining "data center" in the county's zoning code.
Under the definition, a data center is: a facility used primarily for the storage, management, processing, and transmission of digital data and that houses computer or network equipment, systems, servers, appliances, and other associated components related to digital data storage, processing, and related operations.
Data center uses include data storage facilities, server farms, artificial intelligence training or processing, image processing, cloud computing, email servicing, and similar uses, according to the council's approved definition.
The amendment specifies a facility isn't automatically exempt just because data involved relates to wireless, broadband or public safety communications.
The original proposal would have created a permanent special district, called SU-47, that set standards data center developers would eventually be required to meet. The requirements include a 400-foot buffer from industrial-protected areas and a 65-decibel noise cap at the property line. There is also annual reporting on water and electricity use.
Ongoing fight over data centers
Data center have become a focus of economic development for Indiana government and business leaders. But the centers have also triggered intense community pushback with concerns about resource and land use. At least 17 Indiana counties have enacted temporary moratoriums, and two, Marshall and Cass counties, have banned the facilities.
In Marion County, Google withdrew a contested proposal in September 20025 to rezone hundreds of acres in Franklin Township for a data center campus.
The Metropolitan Development Commission approved a $4 billion project from Seattle-based Sabey for Decatur Township in March. Then in May, Metrobloks won approval for a development in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood despite opposition. And in July, the Georgia-based DC Blox secured approval for a two-building facility on the east side.
During Monday's council meeting, Councilor Michael-Paul Hart was the lone vote against the moratorium. Hart is supportive of the DC Bloc data center planned for the district he represents.
What's next
The moratorium now heads to the Metropolitan Development Commission for final action. It meets 1 p.m. Aug. 19 in the City-County Building's public assembly room.
Eric Weddle is WFYI's education editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle.
