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North Richland Hills adopts new zoning rules for data centers, adds special-use reviews near homes
Summary
City Council approved a zoning text amendment to add “data center” uses to the zoning code and set rules on noise, equipment screening, parking and special-use permits for sites near residential properties.
The North Richland Hills City Council on Monday approved an ordinance amending Chapter 118 of the city’s zoning code to add two categories of data centers and new regulations for equipment, noise and parking.
City planning staff said the amendment creates two definitions — Data Center (General) for facilities in excess of 10,000 square feet, and Data Center (Small-Scale) for facilities of 10,000 square feet or less — and adds requirements for full enclosure or screening of noise-generating equipment, limits on generator testing hours, a required noise study, parking formulas, and a 200-foot special-use-permit requirement for sites near residential zoning.
The text amendment was staff-initiated. Planning staff told the council they had been researching national model guidance and peer-city ordinances and wanted to put a regulatory framework in place before applicants filed formal proposals. “We did a lot of research,” Staff member Corey, planning staff, said as she described work with the Urban Land Institute model…
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