Rapid City officials are wrestling with how to protect the community while a permanent data‑center ordinance remains under review. Mayor Jason Salamun presented two alternatives for the Planning Commission’s November 25 meeting: a six‑month moratorium on new data‑center permits or an interim ordinance that would embed specific safeguards into the existing rules.
Salamun said he prefers the interim rules because a temporary pause would simply expire, leaving the city without lasting protections. “I at least want those rules in place because the pause will expire and you still have to address the rules,” he told reporters.
Key concerns and proposed safeguards
The mayor’s top priority is water usage. He wants any new measure to limit water consumption, address power‑capacity demands, curb noise, and ensure a safe distance from residential neighborhoods. The draft ordinance is still being written, and exact limits or enforcement mechanisms have not yet been disclosed.
Community Development Director Vicki Fisher explained that the current ordinance merely requires a building permit for data centers and offers few concrete restrictions. The proposed long‑term ordinance would add the needed safeguards without creating a new allowance for data‑center construction.
Public input and commission timeline
Rapid City has received more than 900 public comments on the issue. At the November 5 Planning Commission meeting, resident Scott Armstrong urged officials to consider a broader moratorium rather than focusing solely on buffer‑zone specifics. Commissioner Pat Roseland, who voted against extending the ordinance review to January, expressed frustration with the timeline, noting that “two months is a long time to wait.”
Fisher noted that the city has not yet issued a building permit for a standalone data center, though some local businesses operate small on‑site data facilities. Salamun confirmed that no permits have been pulled for a dedicated data‑center project.
Next steps
If the Planning Commission approves an interim ordinance, it must pass two City Council readings and a public‑notice period before taking effect, likely in January. The permanent ordinance is slated to return to the commission on January 21, 2027, with a possible City Council discussion in February. Staff plans to release a revised draft for public review before the January meeting.
Original reporting: KOTA (Gray) – local — read the source article.
