City Council Full Meeting, August 18, 2026
Approves Temporary moratorium on data center development permits (first reading), unanimous
What happened
The Memphis City Council introduced Ordinance No. 5982, a temporary moratorium on data center development permits (zoning, land use, building, infrastructure) within the City of Memphis, for FIRST READING on the consent agenda; it was sponsored by council members Smiley, Green, S…
- Jurisdiction
- Memphis, TN
- Governing body
- Final authority
- Date
- August 18, 2026
- Decisions
- 20 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Approved, unanimous
Free sample: decision 1 of 20
Temporary moratorium on data center development permits (first reading)
Ordinance No. 5982 declaring a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval, and issuing of zoning, land use, building, and other associated infrastructure permits for data center developments within the City of Memphis. Up for first reading on the consent agenda; sponsored by council members Smiley, Green, Swearingen-Washington, and Easter-Thomas. Passed as part of consent agenda (items 6-10, 25).
The other decisions are listed below by title. The full write-up, verbatim conditions, and the audio at each vote are in Pro.
Meeting Summary
The Memphis City Council introduced Ordinance No. 5982, a temporary moratorium on data center development permits (zoning, land use, building, infrastructure) within the City of Memphis, for FIRST READING on the consent agenda; it was sponsored by council members Smiley, Green, S…
Key Decisions (20)
Temporary moratorium on data center development permits (first reading)
Consent agenda approval (items 6-10, 25)
Final plat for Pleasant Acres first addition lots 22 and 23
Supplemental agreement no. 1, Lake Las Cruces plan development phase two
Arts for All grant acceptance
MLGW fiscal consent contracts (items 12-17)
Community Grant program - medical debt relief and MLGW Plus One
Parks Critical Needs Funds appropriation
Riverfront park improvements fund transfer
Innovation Corridor BRT bond transfer
Rail infrastructure and paratransit vehicles CIP transfers
Amend FY2027 CIP budget for public art program ordinance
Jesse Turner Park improvements appropriation
Zoo Major Maintenance appropriation
Kennedy Park improvements appropriation
Wolf River Greenway Phase 5C appropriation
Overton Park Metal Museum appropriation
Pine Hill Golf Course Netting appropriation
Levitt Shell Improvements appropriation
$350 million general improvement refunding bonds series 2026
Development Activity (1)
XAI Colossus data centers
Industrial
Market Signals (4)
Infrastructure
Data center water and power demand (XAI Colossus drawing hundreds…
Sentiment
Overwhelming and organized public opposition to data center development in…
Infrastructure
MATA transit remains underfunded (23 vs. desired 63 routes) despite…
Commercial Demand
A council member warned during first reading that a data…
Who Spoke (20)
On the record: the chair, 5 councilmembers, and 13 members of the public.
Meeting Intelligence Preview
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