Evanston Weighs One-Year Data Center Moratorium

The Land Use Commission will consider a zoning text amendment pausing new data center approvals in the city.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Data Centers

Evanston Weighs One-Year Data Center Moratorium

Live Poll

Should your city pause new data center approvals for a year to study impacts?

The Evanston Land Use Commission will consider a one-year moratorium on new data center approvals, referred by Ald. Krissie Harris and co-sponsored by four other aldermen. The proposal follows a small-scale data center proposed at 1265 Hartrey Ave. in September, and the commission's vote will send it to City Council.

Why it matters

City Manager Luke Stowe said Evanston's zoning code currently does not allow data centers, so the moratorium would hold the city's rules in place while officials study the issue. Similar pauses adopted by Aurora, Plainfield and West Chicago, Illinois, make Evanston's proposal part of a regional pattern of local regulation.

The proposal sets a one-year moratorium, longer than the six-month pause Aurora adopted last fall. The commission's vote is pending, and the City Council's decision after that vote is not yet known.

The players

Krissie Harris

Evanston alderman representing the 2nd Ward, who submitted the moratorium referral.

Luke Stowe

Evanston City Manager, who said the city's zoning code currently does not allow data centers.

Brandon Johnson

Mayor of Chicago, who has proposed a one-year data center moratorium for his city.

The details

The proposed ordinance would establish a one-year moratorium on new data center approvals in Evanston, largely modeled on Aurora's moratorium. Alds. Clare Kelly, Bobby Burns, Parielle Davis and Matt Rodgers co-sponsored the referral with Harris.

Early October: Ald. Krissie Harris submitted the moratorium referral.
September: A small-scale data center was proposed at 1265 Hartrey Ave. in the 2nd Ward.
Last fall: Aurora, Illinois adopted a six-month pause on new data centers.
This week: The Land Use Commission is set to consider the moratorium.

Seasonal Patterns

Evanston's proposal follows Aurora's six-month pause adopted last fall and extends the approach to a full year. Plainfield and West Chicago have adopted their own pauses, indicating a pattern of Illinois municipalities pausing data center approvals while they study regulation.

If approved, the moratorium would block new data center approvals in Evanston for one year, affecting any residents or businesses hoping to build such facilities locally. The pause would give city staff time to study impacts before longer-term rules are set.

The takeaway

Local data center proposals may prompt temporary pauses while cities study regulation, so residents can watch for commission and council votes that shape how such facilities are approved.