CAVE CITY, Ky. — A series of proposed text amendments to Cave City’s zoning ordinance failed Monday evening after councilmembers said they needed more time to review the potential impact data center developments could have within the city limits.

At least one data center developer has reportedly expressed interest in building within Cave City, according to councilmember Leticia Cline.

Dozens of residents packed City Hall Monday night to voice concerns over the possibility of future data center projects. The meeting lasted roughly an hour and a half, with several residents speaking during public comment.

What was being considered?

No data center project is currently under development in Cave City, though city leaders said concerns were raised that one could be on the horizon following recent interest from at least one developer.

Company calls for ethics review ahead of Cave City data center zoning discussion

The company said its “only goal is to help ensure that the process remains impartial and free from any concerns that could later call the validity or fairness of the proceedings into question.”

BarrensideBrennan Crain

On Monday, the City Council considered a series of proposed zoning ordinance amendments that were placed on the agenda following an April 30 meeting of the Barren County Planning and Zoning Commission.

Planning Director Kevin Myatt said the commission voted last month to approve amendments to a previously adopted zoning ordinance following a request from Mayor Dwayne Hatcher.

“The planning commission is at the direction of each mayor of each city and the county judge,” Myatt said.

Mayor Hatcher's Letter by brennan.crain

On March 12, councilmembers approved an earlier set of zoning ordinance changes that would have classified potential data center developments as conditional uses, meaning any future proposals would have been required to go before the Board of Adjustment for review.

The discussion was focused on recent changes to state law governing qualified manufactured homes, but the conversation soon expanded as concerns about potential data center development were raised.

“While we were doing that process, data centers were brought up and it was our understanding that if it’s not referenced in your zoning classification, it’s a permitted use,” Myatt said.

Mayor Hatcher later requested the Planning and Zoning Commission revise the earlier ordinance, allowing data centers as a permitted use subject to five guidelines.

Projects would then be governed by those five boundaries, which were up for consideration Monday night.

Text Amendment Summary - April 2026 by brennan.crain

Councilmembers opposed to the latest version of the ordinance said it would still limit the city’s ability to have a say in future development decisions, arguing that permitted-use zoning language would bypass an additional review step before the Board of Adjustment.

“It means it’s open game because there’s some language if we voted yes but not enough. That’s why I want to do a moratorium so that no data centers can come in,” Cline said.

What did the community say?

Residents spanning multiple generations spoke during the meeting, from a Glasgow High School sophomore who lives in Cave City to a geologist and community members expressing concerns for their grandchildren.

Most residents who spoke expressed strong opposition to any future data center development and urged city leaders to adopt stricter language within the zoning ordinance to fully prevent such projects.

“We don’t want them at all,” one man said. “Protect our farms, and protect our caves.”

One man who spoke earlier in the meeting grew increasingly agitated as the discussion continued. He later delivered an impassioned address before storming out of the room, where he could still be heard yelling outside City Hall.

“We’re not willing to trade our environment and higher costs so that the rich man can profit off of raping our land,” he said. “Make the call. I’m not willing to be a Judas Iscariot and hang Christ on a cross for a bag of silver, and that’s exactly what you’re willing to do.”

The room erupted in applause as the man left the meeting.

Caveland Environmental Authority CEO David Peterson also addressed potential impacts a data center could have on the area’s water system.

“Right now, the city of Cave City is blessed. We have two water connections – one with the city of Glasgow and one with the Green River Valley Water,” he said. “We do have a lot of water availability for any development.”

He encouraged attendees to keep an open mind about possible economic benefits, citing his role as chair of the Barren County Economic Authority.

Peterson also noted the authority’s support for Tate Inc., a company planning to open a manufacturing facility in the former RR Donnelley building that will produce infrastructure components used in data centers.

“So before we go all out kill mode, let's just stop and think because what they do is manufacture stuff for data centers all over the world,” Peterson said.

He said he supported rules and regulations but added that he saw value in the potential economic impact, especially for young people in area schools who might otherwise leave the region if such developments were not encouraged.

The crowd was mostly displeased with his remarks.

“Communities still have a right to decide what kind of growth aligns with their long-term identity and community, and this does not fit ours,” Cline said.

What happens now?

After about a minute of silence for prayer, Cave City leaders voted 4-1 to impose a one-year moratorium on consideration of data center proposals. The language in the motion was mirrored from an ordinance passed in Meade County last year.

“That will give us the time to inform the public, to stop the ignorance, to be unified in our voice and get the language correct that we all seek,” Cline said.

The public largely complained about not being aware of the previous public hearings, which were advertised in the local newspaper, though many attendees said they did not regularly read it.

Despite the pause on formal consideration, the city still does not have zoning regulations in place that would fully prevent a data center project from advancing.

“My understanding is that no application can be submitted to the planning commission for review of a data center development while this moratorium is in place,” Myatt said.

Councilmember Denny Doyle cast the lone dissenting vote against the moratorium. He was also the only member to support the proposed text amendments before the legislative body during Monday’s meeting.

Councilmember Beverly Ford was not in attendance. Mayor Dwayne Hatcher said she had recently been hospitalized while dealing with health issues.

Ford had also shared concerns about data centers in a public Facebook post this week and indicated agreement with other councilmembers, including Cline, on the issue.