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Staff to refine data‑center zoning draft after commissioners request noise, power and cooling thresholds
Summary
Planning staff will refine a proposed zoning text amendment for data centers after a May 14 workshop discussion; commissioners asked for clearer thresholds that distinguish high‑impact crypto/mining operations from typical server facilities and directed staff to proceed toward a public hearing.
Planning staff presented a draft zoning text amendment for data centers in a May 14 work session and commissioners asked staff to refine the draft with clearer triggers tied to noise, power use and cooling methods before a public hearing. The commission directed staff to prepare revised language and advertise the amendment for a future meeting.
City/County Planner Steve Josephson said staff had reviewed other jurisdictions and drafted standards that would: identify allowed zones, require a noise/acoustic study, require evidence of a power purchase agreement, and include separation distances from sensitive uses. Draft language included a proposed setback of one mile from dwellings, schools, religious assembly and parks for certain high‑impact facilities and a three‑mile separation between data centers, with an allowance for special‑use reductions if applicants demonstrate hardship and gain consent from intervening property owners.
Commissioners expressed that not all data centers generate the same impacts; they asked staff to define thresholds that would trigger the stricter separation and review requirements (for example, fan‑cooled operations, high electrical draw or acoustical impacts) and to allow smaller “micro” data centers or office‑type server installations by right. Josephson agreed to revise the draft and to bring a public‑hearing version of the zoning text amendment to a future meeting.
