Cave City approves one-year moratorium with second reading

CAVE CITY, Ky. (WNKY) — Cave City leaders officially approved a one-year moratorium Wednesday night on data center-related zoning discussions, temporarily pausing any future consideration of those developments after weeks of growing public concern and emotional community debate.

The ordinance passed during a special-called meeting lasting under 3 minutes at Cave City Hall by a 4-1 vote. Council member Denny Doyle cast the lone vote against the measure, matching the outcome of the ordinance’s first reading Monday night.

The moratorium places a temporary halt on discussions and consideration of zoning changes related to data centers and similar large-scale technology developments for the next year while city leaders continue evaluating the issue through potential committee and gathering public input.

The debate surrounding possible future data center development has drawn packed crowds to multiple recent council meetings, with many residents voicing concerns about environmental impacts, water and electrical usage, infrastructure strain and the long-term effects such projects could have on the Mammoth Cave region and Cave City’s tourism-based identity.

Mayor Dwayne Hatcher reiterated Wednesday night that, to his knowledge, there are currently no formal data center developments proposed in Cave City.

“To my knowledge, I don’t know of any,” Hatcher said. “That would not come to us. It would go to the Planning and Zoning Committee.”

Much of the controversy stemmed from earlier discussions surrounding proposed zoning language that would have established regulations for future data centers if a developer ever expressed interest in the city. Officials have repeatedly stated that no formal data center project has been proposed in Cave City to their knowledge, which Mayor Dwayne Hatcher reiterated Wednesday evening.

Council member Andrew Bagshaw said while he supports growth and economic development, he does not believe data centers align with Cave City’s long-term vision.

“We need growth, we need manufacturing, we need jobs,” Bagshaw said. “And I just don’t think that is the future of Cave City.”

Still, the issue has quickly become one of the most divisive topics currently facing the community. Some residents have pushed for a permanent ban on data centers altogether, while others supported the moratorium as a way to slow the process down and allow additional time for research, planning and public discussion.

Council member Leticia Cline said city leaders now hope to eventually create zoning language that reflects residents’ concerns.

“We would love to get the language with zoning to reflect what the citizens want,” Cline said.

The newly approved ordinance now pauses any further data center-related zoning discussions in Cave City for the next year.