Commission discusses data centers and a possible short moratorium while staff develops regulations

Planning staff briefed the commission that data centers are currently a permitted use in the B Business and industrial districts but that the city’s code lacks a definition or development standards for modern high‑utility facilities. Staff listed potential impacts — high electrical demand, water and wastewater generation, backup generators and fuel storage, noise and large building footprints with relatively few employees — and proposed options such as defining categories (large vs. small), establishing thresholds, requiring utility demand studies, and allowing developer‑funded infrastructure improvements.