Some council members voiced support for the proposal.
Council Member Ed Driggs said the city has no policy right now and is starting from scratch, so it should give itself that time. The moratorium is slated to expire on Nov. 5.
Charlotte enacted its moratorium in June following months of local outcry against data centers. Opponents cited significant water and power usage, noise and light pollution, and potential community displacement as key reasons to protest their build-out.
Council Member Dimple Ajmera said AI demand is driving data center demand drastically up and the city must put protections in place. Cristopher Scalise, co-founder of Stop East Charlotte Data Center, said he hoped the council would do the right thing and go at least another year.
The catalyst for the heavy opposition in the area was American Tower Corp.'s proposal for a 40K SF facility near Reedy Creek Nature Preserve in East Charlotte, which has now been paused.