Calgary councilors are considering a temporary pause on new land use applications for large-scale data centres as the city looks to better understand their potential impacts on municipal resources. A notice of motion going before council Tuesday calls for a moratorium while administration develops new rules for data centre development. The motion raises concerns around water consumption, electricity demand, noise, and the effects on surrounding communities. If approved, administration would be directed to develop new land use rules, including defining different sizes of data centres and determining where they could be built. That work would be brought back to council at a public hearing in March 2027. Several municipalities across Canada have already introduced temporary restrictions or are reviewing regulations for data centre development, including Rocky View County. The motion is sponsored by four councillors, and Mayor Jeromy Farkas. This comes amid a review of a land use redesignation application for “large industrial buildings (data centre)” in Calgary’s northeast. The land in question is a large undeveloped area east of the intersection of 52 Street and 144 Avenue N.E., north of the community of Redstone. The application asks for permission to allow for large industrial buildings and large power generation for a data centre, along with natural areas and stormwater retention ponds. The area is owned by real estate asset management company Walton as part of its 710-acre North Point Industrial area. Stantec is listed as the applicant for the land use change.
