Commission backs zoning ordinance updates to add new uses, require SUPs for drive-throughs and set data-center threshold

WYLIE, Texas — The Wylie Planning and Zoning Commission on June 2 approved proposed amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance, updating listed uses and development regulations and directing staff to forward the changes for council consideration.

Planning staff said the amendments would require special-use permits for drive-through businesses, add new uses — including event centers, drone delivery stations and data centers — and remove obsolete uses such as mining. Staff also said home-occupation provisions were revised to comply with Texas law.

Commissioners focused questions on data centers and utilities. One commissioner asked whether the city could limit a single data-center building to 10,000 square feet; staff said the draft is written so that a cumulative area over 25,000 square feet would trigger a special-use permit review (for example, multiple 10,000-square-foot buildings could be counted cumulatively). Another commissioner emphasized the intent was to limit projects to normal utility use and said if a project required a substation or major new water service it would likely require a planned development rather than an SUP.

The commission voted to approve the amendments at the meeting.

Staff said the item was the product of earlier work sessions with the commission and council and that the changes are intended to modernize the ordinance to reflect development trends while preserving city oversight through SUP and planned-development processes.