Pressing Pause on Progress Isn't a Growth Strategy

Across Indiana, a growing number of communities have adopted moratoriums on new development. Some have targeted housing, others renewable energy projects, and increasingly, data centers. Here in St. Joseph County, we essentially have a moratorium on renewable energy projects. Some community members, elected officials, and candidates for public office have begun calling for similar pauses in other industries.

I understand the impulse. Growth brings change and change raises questions. Residents want to know how developments will affect neighborhoods, infrastructure, utilities and quality of life. Those are fair questions, and local leaders should address them thoughtfully. But a moratorium is the wrong tool.

The reality is that South Bend and St. Joseph County are not struggling with too much growth. We are still working to generate enough of it.

According to U.S. Census and Indiana Business Research Center data, since 2020, Indiana's population grew by roughly 2.7% while St. Joseph County's population has been essentially flat. This follows roughly six decades of population decline (1950-2010) followed by one decade of moderate population growth. And we continue to struggle with net domestic out-migration, meaning more people are leaving for opportunities elsewhere than are choosing to move here.

Those numbers should concern all of us.

Economic development is highly competitive. Businesses and investors compare communities every day. The regions experiencing the strongest GDP growth tend to be those that continue to expand infrastructure, add housing, attract talent and welcome investment. St. Joseph County generates nearly $20 billion in annual economic output, but maintaining and growing that base requires continual new investment and competitiveness.

When a community adopts a moratorium, it may view that decision as temporary. Investors view it differently. Faced with uncertainty, they simply move on to another location. Communities rarely become more prosperous by putting investment on hold.

For decades, our region has worked hard to attract new investment, create jobs, expand the tax base and provide opportunities that encourage young people to build their futures here. Progress has come, but often more slowly than in many of Indiana's fastest-growing regions. That is why I worry when I hear proposals to pause entire categories of development.

Whether the discussion involves data centers, manufacturing facilities, housing developments, or commercial projects, a moratorium sends a message. The message may not be intentional, but it is heard clearly by investors: this community is unsure whether it wants growth.

Data centers offer a good example. The digital economy depends on them. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, online banking, healthcare systems, and countless everyday services all require the infrastructure that data centers provide. It is estimated that more than $1 trillion of data center projects will advance in the coming years, and communities across the country are competing aggressively for these projects because they represent significant private investment, construction jobs, and new tax revenue.

That doesn't mean every data center proposal should be approved automatically. Far from it. Communities should carefully evaluate issues such as power demand, water usage, site selection, traffic impacts and incentive packages. Local governments should negotiate from a position of strength and insist on responsible development practices. But there is a big difference between thoughtful review and a blanket pause.

Instead of moratoriums, communities can update zoning ordinances, establish clear performance standards, require infrastructure improvements, create appropriate setback requirements and hold developers accountable through transparent public processes. Those approaches allow communities to manage growth while still welcoming investment.

The choice is not between uncontrolled development and no development at all. The real choice is whether we are willing to shape growth or simply watch it occur somewhere else.

For a community seeking to increase population, expand opportunity and strengthen its economic future, a moratorium can become a self-inflicted setback. The regions that thrive in the coming decades will not be those that avoid difficult conversations about growth. They will be those that engage in those conversations, establish clear expectations and move forward with confidence.