Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission adopts zoning rules for data centers
Summary
The Stow City Planning Commission approved a zoning text amendment (PC 2026-014) establishing a definition and design standards for data centers, including a 1-per-1,000-sq-ft parking minimum, 75-foot residential setbacks, noise and air-quality limits, and requirements on water use and waste-heat management.
The Stow City Planning Commission voted to approve a zoning text amendment, PC 2026-014, that adds a formal definition for data centers and sets minimum standards for their siting and operation.
Planning commissioner Zach said the amendment defines a data center as “a facility used primarily for the storage, management, processing, and dissemination of data and information, housing computer systems, servers, and associated components,” and would treat data centers as a conditional use in the industrial district. The amendment establishes a minimum parking ratio of one space per 1,000 square feet and sets a 75-foot minimum building setback from property lines adjoining residential uses.
The proposal requires applicants to demonstrate adequate utility capacity, to coordinate with utility providers, and to show efforts to obtain renewable or carbon-free electricity. Staff told the commission that applicants would need to submit daily and estimated annual water-usage figures, use water-efficient cooling systems and nonpotable or recycled water where feasible, and prohibit wastewater discharge unless it is pretreated to specified standards. The amendment also encourages waste-heat recovery where practicable and requires cooling equipment to be oriented and shielded from nearby residences.
On operational issues, the text caps mechanical-equipment noise at 65 dBA at nonresidential property lines and 55 dBA at property lines adjoining residential districts, allows generators only for emergency use or testing, and requires an air-quality impact assessment evaluating on-site generator emissions and impacts on nearby residential areas. The draft prohibits use of fossil-fuel generators unless the applicant demonstrates no feasible alternative.
A committee member asked whether the language was benchmarked against other jurisdictions; staff said the draft pulls language from several cities and had been revised with input from Councilman Herman to strengthen thermal and air-quality provisions. After brief public comment in support, the commission moved and approved PC 2026-014 by roll call. The approval means data centers would be subject to conditional-use review and, per the code process staff described, would require subsequent city council action for final approval.
