- August 5, 2026
Last week, the Ormond Beach City Commission unanimously approved a 18-month moratorium on data centers, providing a window of time for staff to work on implementing the ultimate discussed end goal: a total ban.
At the commission's meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, city staff provided an overview on what will take place over the next several months as staff proceeds with comprehensive plan and land development code amendments to ban data centers. This was in response to resident concerns raised at the commission's last meeting on July 28 surrounding what would happen during and after a moratorium expired.
"There was a lot of concerned residents that I'm sure reached out to all of us after Tuesday's meeting about the moratorium," Mayor Jason Leslie said, explaining that they were concerned whether the 18-month moratorium would be enough time for the city to pass a ban.
City staff affirmed it will be.
The commission will discuss data center regulation at its next meeting on Aug. 25. Following policy direction from officials, the Planning Board will meet on Sept. 10 for a public hearing on the issue. The amendments will then come before the City Commission for a first reading on Oct. 20.
After that, on Oct. 27, city staff will transmit the regulations to the Volusia County Growth Management Commission and other state agencies, and will await their comments or approval. A second public hearing on the amendment will take place on January 5, 2027. Staff will submit the result of the vote to state agencies on Jan. 12, and the amendments will go into effect on Feb. 13.
"I know it does seem like it's forever, but being on the Planning Board before, I know how that goes and this is the most legal, sure way of getting the job done," Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland said.
Though in favor of a ban, public speakers at Tuesday's meeting wanted the city to act faster and more decisively.
"We had to wait 12 weeks for a moratorium without a defined outcome, and that uncertainty is what led to the public concern expressed last week," Daytona Beach resident Catherine Pante said. "Had the proposed moratorium included a clear and expedited timeline culminating in a permanent data center prohibition ordinance, residents would have viewed it as a meaningful step toward protecting our community."
Leslie suggested the city put out a portal on the city's website where residents can track the progress of a data center ban, and commissioners agreed. City Commissioner Travis Sargent also asked if there was interest to send letters to all the municipalities in the county to inform them of the city's timeline regarding a data center ban.
Tolland said the city should monitor the county's actions regarding data centers as well, as its heavy industrial zoning district has a broad range of uses, and the county has such land in proximity to Ormond Beach's city limits. One example is 874 Hull Road, where Belvedere initially wished to construct a fuel farm.
Volusia County is currently exploring a six-month moratorium on data centers.
