San Angelo council seeks binding rules for data centers after broad resident concerns

San Angelo — The City Council on Feb. 17 directed staff to refine proposed design guidelines and a conditional‑use review for data centers after residents raised concerns about water use, noise, lighting and the enforceability of voluntary standards.

Planning Director Aaron Vannoy and consultants from Westwood Professional Services presented draft language that would require public notice and a conditional‑use hearing for data centers in light‑ and heavy‑manufacturing zones, a plan submittal showing elevations, ground‑mounted equipment locations (including generators), screening, photometrics and sound modeling. Vannoy said setbacks would vary by adjacency: 300 feet where a data center borders residential property inside city limits, 200 feet where it abuts the extraterritorial jurisdiction and 50 feet where adjacent uses are commercial or industrial. He also proposed a 75‑foot maximum building height with accessory equipment limited to 30 feet.

Why it matters: Residents and several councilmembers pressed for…