McMinnville calls special session for data center discussion

The city of McMinnville may hit the pause button on a proposed data center on Industrial Drive.

McMinnville Mayor Ryle Chastain has called a special session of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for this Wednesday, June 3, to consider a temporary halt on the data center until local guidelines for such industries can be established.

City officials will consider a moratorium on the application, approval, permitting, construction or expansion of:

• data centers

• bitcoin mining facilities

• microchip manufacturing facilities

• other similar high impact uses

A moratorium is a temporary delay of a specific activity often enacted by governments to provide more time for review.

The proposed Hixson Data Center has created concern from many residents who are worried about its possible electrical and water use, potential noise, and environmental impact.

Said Mayor Chastain, “An outright ban of AI data centers, or other related entities, is not possible given constitutional protections given to property owners. However, the point of this temporary stay is to buy the city time to learn more about these ventures and adopt zoning codes and regulations in their regard. We currently have none because we have never had anyone propose such a project here and the AI boom is relatively new.”

A moratorium would give the city time to adopt guidelines that would pertain to all data centers and similar facilities looking to locate in McMinnville.

Public comment will be allowed at Wednesday’s specially called meeting, which will begin at 6 pm on the second floor of City Hall. Comments will be limited to 3 minutes each.