Commission briefed on 157‑acre Miller Road planned development to allow data centers; staff would bar cryptocurrency mining

City planning staff on June 23 briefed the Planning and Zoning Commission on a request to create a planned development (PD) district allowing light industrial and data‑center uses on roughly 157 acres in the city's southern sector along Miller Road.

Staff said the applicant is pursuing annexation and that the annexation and zoning are scheduled for City Council consideration on July 14, with the annexation to be heard first. Staff offered a working definition for "data center" as a facility used to house collections of computer servers and associated components for remote storage, processing and distribution of large amounts of data for off‑site end users. Staff noted the proposed PD standards largely mirror standards previously adopted for the Provident Goodland Industrial District and address building design, landscaping, screening, parking and building height.

Staff and the Development Review Committee recommended approval of the PD with one notable condition: cryptocurrency mining shall be considered a separate use and shall not be allowed within the proposed district. Staff explained that cryptocurrency mining operations are often outdoor‑oriented with large outdoor fans and equipment and have been associated in other jurisdictions with noise complaints and different development characteristics than enclosed, climate‑controlled data centers. Staff reported four letters of opposition representing three unique mailing addresses east of Miller Road. No formal action was taken at the briefing; the annexation and zoning will be heard at City Council.