Planning commission reviews draft data-center ordinance; commissioners press staff on power, water and noise safeguards

City staff presented a draft data-center zoning ordinance and asked the Planning Commission for feedback before a public hearing slated for April and anticipated City Council introduction in May.

Staff (speaker 2) said the ordinance was prepared after months of research and is intended to create a clear regulatory framework if data centers locate in the city. "This is a draft that we put together after several months of research and pulling best planning practices together," staff said.

Commissioners pressed staff on several technical and policy issues. Commissioner (speaker 6) listed possible mitigation and design measures including solar arrays, on-site water purification, and industry best practices. The commissioner urged active engagement with potential corporate partners: "As we move forward ... it's gonna be important to engage people that are in this industry," Commissioner (speaker 6) said.

Infrastructure capacity drew particular attention. Commissioner (speaker 6) warned that the city’s water and sewer systems have limited spare capacity — "we are at about 25% capacity for our water and sewer infrastructure" — and asked staff to analyze long-term utility impacts before permitting major new loads. Legal and procedural questions included whether council can draft non-waivable provisions into the ordinance; staff confirmed many ordinances contain non-waivable elements and explained the draft’s intent to retain certain review standards.

Commissioners also asked the draft to explicitly acknowledge alternative on-site energy generation (solar, heat pumps, wind) and to provide more specific controls for sound: one commissioner proposed including decibel thresholds or an annual sound-study requirement so the public has measurable data.

Staff said the draft is only one piece of a broader regulatory 'mosaic' — franchise approvals or transmission-line permits could be required separately if a data center seeks private power lines into the city. Staff also said the city has not yet been contacted by developers and that mapped potential sites likely include larger industrial parcels. The current moratorium on data centers will expire in the summer; staff and commissioners discussed legal limits on indefinite moratoria.

The commission did not vote on the ordinance at this meeting; the item remains under review with direction for staff to refine definitions, consider explicit language on on-site generation and noise measures, and prepare the draft for a public hearing in April.