Mason planning commission narrowly recommends new M3 zoning for data centers after heated public hearing

The City of Mason Planning Commission recommended the City Council adopt Ordinance 2‑66, which would add a new "technology innovation" M3 zoning district and a package of development standards aimed at data centers, after a long public hearing and close votes.

The commission opened the public hearing at 6:36 p.m. Tuesday and heard more than an hour of public comment from residents who said the proposal risks local water and air quality, noise, the rural character of the area and property values. Mayor Russ Whipple, appearing as the ordinance applicant, told commissioners the text amendment is a proactive attempt to create standards for the state’s new tax‑incentivized enterprise data centers rather than to approve a specific project. "This is about an ordinance to create standards for data centers. It's not about approving a data center," Whipple said in his presentation, and he described model provisions drawn from other cities for setbacks, screening, lighting and noise limits.

Many commenters urged the commission to reject the ordinance or strengthen it. Residents questioned who would use the centers, how much water…