Council members discussed a proposed amendment to the city zoning ordinance to address data centers and high‑intensity computing facilities, and directed city staff to draft ordinance language for future review.

Shane (council member) opened the discussion, describing data centers as “the physical infrastructure of the Internet” and noting that recent growth in artificial intelligence has increased computing power, cooling and power demands. He said such facilities “produce a huge amount of industrial noise and pollution” and cited concerns about continuous cooling fans and diesel backup generators.

Council members and staff discussed potential regulatory tools including mandatory noise limits, zoning setbacks to keep facilities away from residential areas, requiring verifiable renewable energy sourcing plans, closed-loop water-cooling systems, and ensuring developers bear the cost of any electric-grid upgrades their projects require. One council member referenced experiences in Washington state where heavy data‑center loads contributed to local brownouts and later capital upgrades that shifted costs to residents.

The council agreed there are model ordinances available, and asked the solicitor and planning staff to draft proposed language for a public hearing and referral to the planning commission. A council member asked whether data centers should be treated as a conditional use requiring council approval rather than as a special use decided by the zoning hearing board; the council indicated that conditional-use review by council may be appropriate because of potential community impacts.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the council’s direction was to begin drafting and to return the proposal for the standard public-review process.