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Commission directs staff to add accessory buildings to screening rules and discusses data center definition
Summary
Commissioners asked staff to add accessory buildings and permanent containers into the screening provisions of the city code and discussed adding a definition for data centers, with members raising infrastructure concerns and staff agreeing to draft definitions and return with options.
The Planning & Zoning Commission directed staff to include accessory buildings and permanent storage containers in the city’s screening requirements and discussed adding a municipal definition of "data centers" to the zoning code.
Staff told commissioners that outdoor storage and mechanical equipment are already subject to screening but accessory buildings — including permanent shipping containers used as storage — are not currently covered in that section of Chapter 153. Commissioners directed staff to draft ordinance language that would require screening (walls, fences or landscaping) so such structures are not visible from the street.
Commissioners also reviewed a proposed definition for "data centers" (facilities engaging in storage, management, processing or transmission of digital data and housing computing and networking equipment). Chair Garcia raised infrastructure concerns, saying data centers require large amounts of electricity and water and asking that any future interest in siting a data center be accompanied by CPS utility capacity studies. Another commissioner said CPS is preparing to increase capacity to serve data centers in the region. Staff emphasized that the present action was to adopt a definition only; future permitting or special‑use determinations would be separate matters.
Next steps: Staff will add accessory buildings to the proposed screening amendments and present revised ordinance language at the next meeting. The proposed data center definition will be retained as a definition for future policy work.
