Dalton reviews zoning text amendments for biohazard waste, data centers and an urban PUD option

At the Feb. 2 meeting the Dalton city staff presented proposed text amendments to the unified zoning ordinance intended to clarify where biohazard and hazardous-waste facilities could operate, define data centers, and add an Urban Planned Unit Development (UPUD) option for smaller infill projects.

Staff said definitions for biohazard, biological and hazardous waste would allow those uses with permitting limited to M-1 and M-2 industrial districts and would require facilities to meet all applicable local, state and federal waste-management regulations and to obtain special-use permits. On data centers, staff proposed a definition and initially said data centers would be permitted by right in the M-2 zone; during discussion staff noted a drafting correction is needed to remove an erroneous special-use requirement for data centers so the intent is to allow data centers in M-2 by right.

On UPUDs, staff described the change as a tool to enable smaller-scale planned-unit developments (less than the prior 15-acre minimum) with a central green space, subject to site-plan review by the planning commission and mayor and council. Staff said the planning commission recommended approval of the draft as presented and that city department heads reviewed the items without expressing objections that would prevent the council from moving forward.

Council asked clarifying questions about special-use permitting for hazardous-waste handling and whether data centers remained properly classified; staff confirmed hazardous-waste facilities would require special use permits and that data centers are intended to be allowed in M-2. No vote occurred on these text amendments at the first reading.