The Brighton City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to pause all data center development for one year. The vote came after hours of public testimony from impassioned residents who oppose plans for a new 2.5-million-square foot data center project at the border of Brighton and Lochbuie.

The crowd overflowed the main chambers of Brighton City Hall, and dozens waited outside after police closed the entry when it reached capacity. 

Midway through the meeting, councilors announced that the developers had actually withdrawn their zoning application for the controversial new data center.

Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteA long line of people wait to enter Brighton City Council, before a public comment session on a data center moratorium and at least one proposed project in the area. Oct. 6, 2026.Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteJenny Peña grows emotional as she talks about her fears about at least one data center project proposed for Brighton, as its City Council prepares to hear public comment on a moratorium for the facilities. Oct. 6, 2026.Kevin J. Beaty/DenveritePeople pack Brighton City Council chambers for public comment on a data center moratorium, and at least one proposed project in the area. Oct. 6, 2026.

Brad Vickers, a Northglenn resident and co-lead of the Adams County Democratic Socialists of America, lit up with joy. “AI giants have no right to dictate onto communities like Brighton, like Thornton, like Northglenn, what our residents experience in their day-to-day lives,” Vickers said. “The government serves the working people. We pulled up, we made sure that they held their end of the bargain.” 

During the vote on a six-month moratorium, Council Member Lloyd Worth proposed that it be extended to one year, echoing many of the residents’ demands.

“I don’t want one [data center] in my backyard, and I can’t see voting for one in your backyard,” Worth said. “A six-month moratorium is on the table, but I’m not sure that’s enough.” 

Mayor Greg Mills, and council members Peter Padilla and Ann Taddeo, initially voted against extending the moratorium, but then voted in support of a one-year moratorium after the ordinance was amended. 

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause when it passed, whooping and hollering in support. 

Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteBrighton Mayor Pro Tem Peter Padilla tells a crowd gathered at a city council meeting that a rezoning request for a controversial data center project has been rescinded. Oct. 6, 2026.Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteBrighton Mayor Greg Mills listens during a city council meeting on Oct. 6, 2026, as Stacey Baca decries a data center project proposed for the area and pushes officials to adopt a moratorium on the facilities. Oct. 6, 2026.Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteAdam Cushing wears a “I heart AI data centers” shirt at the back of Brighton City Council hearing on the facilities on Oct. 6, 2026. He said the shirt was sort of sarcastic; he is interested in the facilities but said he didn’t know much about one proposed for the area that attracted scores of people out to voice fierce opposition.

All but one speaker during the three-hour public comment period spoke in opposition to data center development in Brighton. Many cited concerns over water and energy use, pollution and impacts on the environment. 

Lisa Burin, a Brighton resident, urged city officials to be proactive in driving data center regulations, rather than letting development proceed and accepting potential consequences, such as water use and noise pollution. 

“Brighton is more than available land on a zoning map … nothing should ever come before the people of Brighton,” Burin said. She said the city needs to establish strict rules about where data centers can be built, and regulations to limit air, noise and light pollution.

As data centers continue to face community pushback across the nation, more cities in Colorado are implementing moratoriums. Brighton is the latest city in the Denver metro to hit the brakes on data centers after Thorton and Commerce City. Neighboring Lochbuie has a five-year pause on data centers, which is the longest moratorium in the state.

Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteA long line of people wait to enter Brighton City Council, before a public comment session on a data center moratorium and at least one proposed project in the area. Oct. 6, 2026.

State Sen. Julie Gonzales stood outside the city council meeting with the crowd, and said that data centers have become a hot-button issue across party lines. 

“What we’re seeing across the state are communities — red, blue and unaffiliated voters — swarming town halls just like what we’re seeing here today in Brighton to say, ‘Do not do this in our name,’” Gonzales said. 

She added that she anticipates another round of legislative attempts to limit their development in the next session. “I fully expect that the Democrats will have to grapple with: Should there be a ban? Should there be guardrails or should we roll out red carpets for these data centers to seek tax incentives on residents’ backs? To me, the choice is clear.”

Dewberry — the planning company behind the cancelled data center — did not respond to multiple requests for comment from CPR News.