Provo Council directs staff to draft overlay zoning for data centers, forms advisory committee

The Provo City Council on Aug. 19 directed city staff to draft overlay-based zoning and related legislation for data centers and to convene a committee to help develop detailed standards, after a staff presentation on draft policy goals and zoning changes. The motion passed 7-0.

Councilors said the measure is intended to give the city more control and public review over where large data centers locate and what environmental, infrastructure and financial safeguards they must meet. Council Executive Director Justin Harrison and City Planner Hannah Saltz presented a draft high-level policy and proposed zoning changes that would sharply narrow where data centers are permitted and set application requirements.

The council acted after staff described a two-tier approach tied to project electrical load. The draft treats facilities under 5 megawatts as generally manageable under existing procedures, treats projects from 5 to 50 megawatts as subject to an administrative review with specified development standards, and treats projects over 50 megawatts as subject to conditional-use review and additional requirements that reflect utility and Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA) policies. "Data centers are currently permitted in 17 zones that total just under…