Planning and Zoning Data Center Legislation Discussion - October 8, 2026

The Memphis City Council’s special-called Planning and Zoning Committee discussion on October 8, 2026, focused on proposed data-center legislation and the city’s zoning authority. Planning staff reported permits in the pipeline for alterations and an approximately 300,000-square-foot expansion at the former Electrolux site on Paul R. Lowry Road, as well as work at the former Fred’s headquarters on Getwell Road. The committee also heard that MLGW had mentioned three or four additional potential projects that could be several months away, though those were not permit applications known to Planning staff. No procurement awards, contracts, or spending decisions were identified.

Council members and the city attorney compared draft ordinances with different moratorium approaches and discussed moving data centers into a special-use-permit process with application studies, site buffers and setbacks, infrastructure-cost recovery, sound mitigation, and plans for removing obsolete equipment. Members debated whether to pause new projects while zoning rules are developed, and discussed a roughly four-week timeline for regulations; one member said they would change their proposed indefinite moratorium to expire December 31, 2026. The discussion did not record a final vote on the legislation. Ordinance 5987 was described as proceeding toward first reading, with possible amendments to tie a temporary pause to its adoption. A later meeting was scheduled to address environmental and infrastructure topics, including noise, water, air quality, and utilities.