Reno Planning Commission urges City Council to consider temporary pause on new data center permits

The Reno Planning Commission on Feb. 5 adopted a resolution recommending that the Reno City Council consider a temporary, time‑certain pause on the filing and issuance of new permits for data centers while the city conducts a study of their economic, environmental and community impacts.

The move followed more than two hours of public comment and a presentation from Commissioner Manny Becerra, who said the resolution is meant to create predictability for applicants, staff and the public and to give the city time to develop a “nimble or adaptable” framework that aligns data center approvals with the Reno Master Plan. "This is not a ban," Becerra said. "We're gonna, hopefully focus more on ... not allowing new permits to flow through, which can cause strain on our infrastructure and our resources."

The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council; staff said any final moratorium would require action by the council or the city manager. Planning Manager Mike Greeley clarified that “only the city manager and city council have the ability to initiate a moratorium of any sort,” and that the staff report summarizing tonight’s discussion and public comment will be included in the council packet for its Feb. 26 meeting.

Why it matters: commenters, neighborhood advocates and climate groups described concerns about water use, grid impacts, wildfire risk, and who ultimately bears the cost of new grid infrastructure. Multiple speakers cited the Webb data center and the recent City Council approvals as the backdrop for the discussion; public commenters urged the city to require on‑site renewable power, more water‑efficient cooling, use of reclaimed water where possible, and clear, enforceable standards for applicants.

Public comment and council/staff role: Dozens of residents and local advocates spoke in favor of a pause. Anne Evans, a Ward 6 resident, told commissioners she supported "a moratorium on accepting any data centers" until the city better understands strain on resources, particularly water. Others — including environmental organizers, UNR students and retired professionals — urged a study of water and energy use, more rigorous local standards, and contractual requirements that data centers bear more of the infrastructure costs.

Legal and procedural concerns: Commissioner Belto cautioned that the Planning Commission is a quasi‑judicial body and warned that adopting a policy‑oriented resolution could be used in future litigation to argue the commission had prejudged specific permit applications. "If the commission passes a resolution seeking a moratorium, it will be used to make a due process argument," Belto said, urging alternative routes such as referral to Neighborhood Advisory Boards or asking councilors to sponsor council action.

Commission debate: Commissioners split on approach but largely agreed the topic requires more study. Some commissioners said a formal recommendation to City Council was an appropriate way to get staff and regional stakeholders working on a code text amendment or other policy tools; others said a surgical request — limited to asking council to initiate code changes and return proposed text to the Planning Commission for review — would better protect the commission’s impartiality on future permit hearings.

Outcome and next steps: The Planning Commission voted to adopt the resolution encouraging City Council to consider a temporary pause and to pursue a data‑driven review and stakeholder engagement process. Staff will include the meeting summary and public comment in the Feb. 26 City Council packet; council could direct staff to initiate a text amendment to the municipal code or take other action. The City Council has already placed a potential code text amendment addressing data centers on its Feb. 26 agenda.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded Feb. 5): - Planning Commission adopts resolution encouraging City Council to consider a temporary pause on filing and issuing new permits for data centers; recommendation to City Council approved by Planning Commission motion (mover: Commissioner Manny Becerra). At least one commissioner recorded opposition on the record; the motion passed. (Provenance: presentation and vote recorded in the Feb. 5 transcript.) - Approval of minutes for the Jan. 15, 2025 Planning Commission meeting: motion passed by voice vote. (Provenance: transcript block at 775.56.) - Conditional Use Permit (RNET Storage Building, LDC25-34): Approved by the Planning Commission. (Provenance: staff presentation and vote at ~7374.) - Conditional Use Permit (Rocket Batteries, LDC25-29): Approved by the Planning Commission with conditions limiting truck length for loading to 30 feet to avoid obstructing Mill Street during the Mill Street widening project. (Provenance: staff presentation and vote at ~7924.) - Major deviation (Cornelius fence height increase in a secondary front yard, LDC25‑32): Approved by the Planning Commission with conditions. (Provenance: staff presentation, public comment, and vote at ~9220.) - Recommendation for appointment to Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission (nomination of Commissioner Villanueva to replace a departing member): Recommendation forwarded to City Council. (Provenance: motion and vote at ~9391.)

What commissioners and staff said they want next: multiple commissioners asked that any text amendment or council‑initiated work product return to the Planning Commission for review before final council adoption; several asked staff to ensure that utility providers and regional partners (e.g., TMRPA, NV Energy, Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony) are invited to contribute data and sit at the table. Staff said the council’s Feb. 26 packet will include a summary of the Feb. 5 public input and the staff recommendation.

Ending: The Planning Commission’s recommendation is advisory. Any formal moratorium, code change or permit standard will require City Council direction or action and, in some cases, state or utility consultation. The commission signaled broad interest in developing clearer rules for data center siting and resource mitigation; council will next consider the matter on Feb. 26 and may direct staff to prepare code text or other proposals for future public hearings.