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Commission approves rezoning of about 718 acres for large data‑center complex; annexation to be completed at council
Summary
The commission voted Jan. 6 to recommend rezoning approximately 718 acres from Agriculture to Planned Development 179 for a multi‑building data‑center campus that would include 17 data halls, administrative buildings and associated infrastructure; staff said a city annexation item will go to council before development proceeds.
The Red Oak Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 6 approved a zoning change request from Agriculture to Planned Development (PD) 179 to allow a large data‑center complex on roughly 718 acres in the city’s planning area. The motion carried after a public hearing and a staff presentation; staff recommended approval conditioned on annexation of the property into the city limits.
City staff described the conceptual plan as proposing up to 17 data center facilities, three administrative buildings, 11 switch stations and nine detention pods; the applicant’s site plan shows future right‑of‑way alignments from the city thoroughfare plan. Staff said buildings will generally be constructed of precast tilt wall panels with metal architectural screening and that the PD includes standards for screening of equipment yards, a minimum 15% landscaping requirement, street‑front tree planting at one tree per 40 linear feet and shrubbery coverage requirements along frontages. A 70 dBA noise limit at property lines was noted for operational noise; construction noise may exceed that during work hours. Staff stated developers must submit detailed site, landscape and elevation plans during subsequent development review.
The commission asked about building height, circulation and traffic. Staff noted the PD sets a maximum building height of 70 feet; a conceptual elevation shown during the presentation indicated a 35‑foot top of screening for some elements, and staff clarified final elevations would be set at detailed plan review. Access and road construction will be addressed during subdivision and right‑of‑way dedication processes; staff said some internal roads and future thoroughfares are shown on the concept plan and that specific construction timing and routes will be established during development review.
Dylan Adame, speaking for Kimberly Horn & Associates, said build‑out of the entire campus could take several years — “probably looking at anywhere from, like, 8 to 10 years” — and that data centers typically generate relatively low ongoing traffic compared with a similarly sized residential subdivision while providing higher‑paying operations jobs. Adame said each data center building could have on the order of about 30 operations employees and that the campus could attract additional commercial investment over time.
Staff told commissioners the city sent nine notice letters to nearby property owners; no letters of opposition were received. After closing the public hearing and a short discussion, the commission voted to approve the PD rezoning with the condition that the property be annexed into the city limits (the annexation item was on the City Council agenda for the next Monday).
