Fort Lupton
Fort Lupton advances pause on 5-megawatt-plus data-center applications
The measure still needs a second reading. If adopted, it would take effect immediately and last up to a year, or until code amendments or further council action.
The Fort Lupton City Council approved on first reading Oct. 20 an ordinance that would suspend applications to establish or expand data centers drawing at least 5 megawatts of electricity.
The proposed pause would bar submission, acceptance, processing and approval of those applications, along with pre-application meetings and land-use, building and engineering permit applications. It would end at the earliest of one year from its effective date, the effective date of data-center code amendments or further council action. The ordinance declares the measure necessary for the immediate preservation of public health and safety and would take effect immediately if adopted on second reading.
Chapter 16 of Fort Lupton’s municipal code has no regulations specifically addressing data-center permits, development or performance standards. The ordinance says the council determined applications should be suspended while regulations, standards and definitions are developed through a comprehensive public process. It cites potential effects on the city’s water supply and infrastructure, power and telecommunications networks, nearby land uses and public services, among other concerns.
A resident said a pause would freeze the data-center market for the group’s site, where the group had bought property and made costly applications to United Power. “90 days probably doesn't hurt us that much,” the resident said. A longer pause would affect the group’s economics, United Power deposits and talks with data-center groups, the resident said. Staff said it was not trying to stop data-center development but wanted guidance on facility locations, application requirements and size-related impacts alongside work on the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
A 12-month suspension would give the city time to survey data centers locally and nationally, draft regulations, respond to 2027 legislative changes and adopt code amendments, the ordinance says. During the pause, planning staff will survey regulations in Colorado and nationally to inform possible zoning, water, energy and design requirements. Staff also intends to propose a development-code update. The staff report says the suspension would provide an opportunity to obtain community input on data centers and potential changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan.