Council narrows where data centers may locate, sets 10,000 sq ft threshold

The council voted unanimously on Nov. 3 to adopt Ordinance 47-20-25, which adds definitions for “data center” and “large data center” to the Unified Zoning Ordinance and restricts where those uses are allowed. Under the ordinance, a data center is defined as total gross building area up to 10,000 square feet; facilities above that threshold would be treated as large data centers and require special exception review.

Housing director Chad Spitznagel and his team explained that the ordinance moves data-center uses into an I-3 zone for baseline allowances and that large data centers would require additional approvals in I-2 zones by special exception. The staff presentation noted the city currently hosts smaller facilities and that the change is intended to keep resource-intensive large centers in appropriate locations.

Council members pressed staff about how the ordinance measures square footage (horizontal and vertical totals count toward the threshold) and whether the change could create nonconformities for existing facilities. Members also urged APC to study energy- and water-use expectations — citing WinTech as a local example — so the city can distinguish between small community-serving facilities and resource-intensive industrial campuses. “I went on a tour of WinTech ... this particular 7,200 square foot facility does not use an exorbitant amount of water,” a councilor noted while urging refined standards.

Councilors framed the measure as a temporary, protective step to prevent “by-right surprises” while the city develops more granular definitions and resource-use standards; one proposed amendment to remove neighborhood-business allowances for small data centers was withdrawn after discussion. The ordinance passed on roll call, 8–0.

Council asked APC to follow up with recommended standards on energy and water usage to better distinguish low-impact local facilities from large regional centers.