Cave City data center debate

CAVE CITY, Ky. — A proposed data center development in Cave City sparked concern and lengthy discussion Monday night, leading city leaders to move forward with a temporary pause on future data center development while zoning regulations are reviewed.

After what city officials described as a long meeting, the Cave City Council voted to pursue a one-year moratorium on data centers to allow time for updated zoning language and more public input.

According to Cave City Council member Leticia Cline, the goal is to better define how data centers could fit — or not fit — within the small tourism-driven community.

“It was a long meeting, but we accomplished passing a moratorium for no programming of data centers for a year until we get our zoning language correct and inform the public of what exactly that could look like for our city,” Cline said.

The discussion comes after some residents raised concerns they were unaware of earlier planning conversations surrounding potential zoning language related to data centers.

Cline said council members believed protective language had already been included following an April 30 planning and zoning meeting. However, changes to the proposed wording led council members to reconsider how the city should move forward.

“We had already thought that we had the language in there to protect us,” Cline said. “Some of that language was changed, which is what we were going to vote on tonight.”

The city now plans to hold a special-called meeting Thursday at 5 p.m. for the first reading of the moratorium ordinance. A second reading is expected during the council’s June meeting.

If approved, the moratorium would temporarily halt data center development in Cave City for one year while city leaders evaluate restrictions and determine whether such facilities should be considered a permitted or conditional use.

Cline said the pause would also allow time to educate residents and gather more information before permanent decisions are made.

“We have a whole year to inform this public, to get our information correct as far as the restrictions on data centers,” she said.

Cline emphasized that while technology is a part of daily life, many residents believe Cave City’s identity as a tourism and agricultural community should factor into future development decisions.

“We are a national park city. We are four square miles. We’re very tiny,” Cline said. “We have tons of agriculture and tourism and natural resources.”

The debate over whether a data center belongs in Cave City is expected to continue as council members consider long-term zoning changes in the months ahead.