Politics
San Francisco starts 45-day review before allowing new data center development
Mayor Daniel Lurie signed a temporary citywide pause on data center development, giving the Planning Department 45 days to assess the facilities and propose rules. The Board of Supervisors approved the measure unanimously last week.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie signed a 45-day moratorium on new data center development Friday, starting a review of the facilities’ potential impacts and how the city should regulate them.
The measure, authored by Supervisor Shamann Walton, directs the San Francisco Planning Department to study data centers and develop controls. The citywide pause took effect with Lurie’s signature on Oct. 16.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the moratorium the previous week after board President Rafael Mandelman expedited it for consideration. Mandelman said Walton’s measure had prompted city officials to prepare for the issue, telling the San Francisco Standard that it was “forcing the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Department to get our ducks in a row.”
Friday was the deadline for Lurie to sign the ordinance. It would have taken effect even without his signature, according to the measure.