Sparks council directs manager to draft zoning changes for data centers after public concerns about power, water and community impacts

Sparks City Council on Monday voted unanimously to direct the city manager to prepare proposed amendments to Title 20 of the Sparks Municipal Code to revise zoning and development standards for data centers.

The council’s action follows an extended public comment period in which residents and advocacy groups raised concerns about energy demand, potential water use, noise, diesel backup generators and whether data centers would shift costs to ratepayers. City Planner Sienna Reed told the council that data centers are currently allowed “by right” in three zoning districts and that proposed code changes could make some data center sitings subject to conditional use review and add development standards for noise, lighting, water use and residential adjacency.

Reed said Northern Nevada’s low natural-disaster risk, cool nights, land availability and state tax incentives have made the region attractive to data center developers, with many of the largest centers choosing the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. She also stressed a limit to city authority: “The zoning code cannot address potential impacts to the rate base from power demand; that falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission,” Reed said.

Public speakers urged the council to require on-site or nearby clean energy, transparent reporting on grid impacts and to coordinate regionally. Joseph Hoshin, president of SPARC, warned of greenhouse gas and backup-diesel pollution and asked the city to prefer carbon-free power. Julia Hubbard, director of Solar United Neighbors, urged requirements for paired solar and battery storage and flexible interconnection agreements so utilities can curtail large loads during emergencies. Trey Abney, representing NAOP Northern Nevada, asked the city to coordinate with regional planning and utilities and cautioned the council to “stay in your lane” on matters governed by other agencies.

Councilmembers pressed staff on several points: how data center revenues compare with other commercial uses, whether a temporary moratorium should be considered while code changes are developed, and the ability to require development agreements to address infrastructure impacts. Councilmember Vanderwell said regional partners and state-level studies are already underway and that Western Nevada Development District has secured grant funds for statewide analysis. Councilmember Rodriguez asked staff to evaluate construction-phase impacts and long-term site remediation.

Under the motion approved 8–0, staff will draft amendments that could modify the zoning districts where data centers are permitted, add or revise definitions and create development standards addressing noise, lighting, water use, residential buffers, decommissioning, stormwater and renewable-energy expectations. Councilmembers emphasized coordination with the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency and NV Energy, and requested that staff return with proposed language and timelines.

No immediate moratorium was adopted during the meeting; councilmembers asked staff to return with a separate agenda item if a temporary hold on new permits is advisable while revisions are prepared.

The action does not change existing entitlements for data centers; rather it directs staff to prepare ordinance amendments for future consideration. Councilmembers said they favored a proactive regional and city-specific approach so Sparks can influence siting and standards rather than respond after facilities are built.

Public comment and staff presentation are part of the official meeting record; the council voted unanimously to approve the direction to the city manager.