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Lexington Data Center Dispute
Coverage from Engage LexingtonKY, Spectrum News, and others
Lexington-Fayette’s data-center dispute took shape after DartPoints proposed expanding operations at a former Lexmark property in north Lexington.
The Urban County Council imposed a development moratorium while the Planning Commission and council considered rules for where facilities could be built and what limits or safeguards should apply. Proposed measures addressed facility size and power use, setbacks, noise, water and stormwater plans, and decommissioning. Residents raised concerns about neighborhood impacts, pollution, energy and water demand, and utility capacity, making the issue both a land-use question and a debate about how communities manage the costs of large infrastructure projects.
If you read one thing
It gives the clearest current overview of the adopted limits, extended moratorium, and unresolved implications for DartPoints.
Best explainer
It explains the earlier approval process and how the moratorium affected DartPoints while zoning proposals were still under review.
The evidence
It adds detailed reporting on proposed resource, noise, and decommissioning requirements and concerns about effects on utility customers.
Development remains paused through October 2027
The council extended the moratorium on new data center development through October 2027, keeping approvals on hold while the adopted zoning framework applies.
Restrictive zoning controls govern facility scale and operations
The council has adopted controls including a 50,000-square-foot size threshold and a 25-megawatt power cap. The framework also addresses noise and requires plans for potential community and environmental impacts.
DartPoints redevelopment faces tighter constraints
DartPoints’ proposed former Lexmark-site redevelopment remains delayed, and its original scale exceeds the adopted size threshold. Its route forward under the extended moratorium and zoning controls is unresolved.
25 megawatts
energy-use cap under the amendment
“The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted unanimously to extend its moratorium on new data center development through October 2027 and approve a zoning ordinance text amendment. A previous moratorium was set to expire on Halloween. The amendment bans data centers larger than 50,000 square feet, caps energy use at 25 megawatts, limits noise and requires zoning plans addressing potential community impacts.”
50,000 square feet
maximum facility size allowed under the amendment
“The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted unanimously to extend its moratorium on new data center development through October 2027 and approve a zoning ordinance text amendment. A previous moratorium was set to expire on Halloween. The amendment bans data centers larger than 50,000 square feet, caps energy use at 25 megawatts, limits noise and requires zoning plans addressing potential community impacts.”
October 2027
moratorium end date
“The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted unanimously to extend its moratorium on new data center development through October 2027 and approve a zoning ordinance text amendment. A previous moratorium was set to expire on Halloween. The amendment bans data centers larger than 50,000 square feet, caps energy use at 25 megawatts, limits noise and requires zoning plans addressing potential community impacts.”
50,000 square feet
facility size threshold for major data centers
“The initial draft zoning updates proposed a complete ban on major data centers, defined as facilities larger than 50,000 square feet, in all Lexington zones. Minor data centers would be limited to 50,000 square feet and allowed only as a conditional use in the B-4 Wholesale/Warehouse and I-1 Light Industrial zones. They would face energy, water and noise mitigation requirements, setbacks from sensitive uses such as schools and daycares, and additional conditions imposed by the Board of Adjustment.”
50,000 square feet
maximum size for minor data centers
“The initial draft zoning updates proposed a complete ban on major data centers, defined as facilities larger than 50,000 square feet, in all Lexington zones. Minor data centers would be limited to 50,000 square feet and allowed only as a conditional use in the B-4 Wholesale/Warehouse and I-1 Light Industrial zones. They would face energy, water and noise mitigation requirements, setbacks from sensitive uses such as schools and daycares, and additional conditions imposed by the Board of Adjustment.”
Lexington extends moratorium and adopts restrictive data-center limits
Lexington-Fayette moved from a temporary pause and proposed zoning changes to an extended moratorium through October 2027 and adopted limits on facility size and power use. The new thresholds are below the size and capacity initially described for DartPoints’ former Lexmark-site redevelopment, leaving its path under the rules unclear.
Previously
Lexington-Fayette is considering tighter data center zoning after pausing development following DartPoints’ purchase of a former Lexmark campus for redevelopment. Proposals include limits on facility size and power use, restricted locations, residential buffers, noise controls, and water, energy, and decommissioning plans. The rules could determine whether and at what scale the site can be redeveloped, while setting requirements for future facilities across the county.
The council moved from considering data center restrictions to extending the moratorium through October 2027 and adopting zoning controls. DartPoints’ proposed redevelopment is now reported as delayed while approvals and the new rules are addressed.