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Sweetwater commissioners adopt zoning limits for data centers, citing lot, sound and district restrictions
Summary
The Sweetwater Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Ordinance 1066 to add location, minimum-lot-size and sound limits for data centers, restricting them to M2 parcels; the change follows planning commission recommendation and a public comment in support.
The Sweetwater Board of Commissioners on Monday unanimously adopted Ordinance 1066, tightening where and how data centers may be sited in the city.
The ordinance narrows allowable locations for data centers to M2-zoned parcels, sets a minimum lot-size requirement and establishes sound limits for operations, a change officials said is intended to prevent an unchecked spread of facilities. The planning commission recommended the measure to the board before the vote.
A member of the public, Amber Bright, addressed the board in support of the ordinance and said she collected roughly 45 petition signatures backing the change. Bright noted limits in the zoning code and asked officials where issues such as drilling or gas-turbine noise would be regulated, saying, “Our zoning ordinance would not address anything about drilling or gas turbines and I believe that's because those would be covered by separate regulatory agencies like Tekk or the health department.”
Commissioners emphasized the ordinance is not final-proof against future applications and said it can be amended through the normal process if new information or concerns arise. A commissioner noted the city has three M2 parcels but only two property owners, and that one parcel does not meet the new minimum lot size; that constraint will reduce the number of viable sites under the new rules.
The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with all recorded members voting in favor. Officials said the city began drafting the language in response to local interest and that other municipalities have sought Sweetwater’s draft as they consider similar rules.
Next steps: the ordinance takes effect per the city’s usual code-adoption timeline, and staff indicated they could return to the board with modifications if future permit filings or technical details prompt changes.
