Residents urge caution on proposed data center; commission defers while attorney reviews

At the City of Gibraltar Planning Commission meeting on June 16, resident Carrie Valadez urged commissioners to pause and fully assess the community impacts of a proposed data center, citing concerns about water, infrastructure and electrical-grid effects.

"It's not that we don't necessarily want them. It's that we really just don't understand enough about them, and I'm a health care provider," Valadez said, adding that communities deserve clearer information on enforcement and on who would hold companies accountable for violations. She also said the company involved had threatened litigation if the community opposed the project.

Another resident, Lenore Bolthouse, asked why the data-center zoning ordinance was not listed as 'unfinished business' on the commission agenda after extensive discussion at a prior meeting: "I don't understand why it's not still listed as unfinished business," Bolthouse said.

Commissioners replied that the item was not on the agenda because the city attorney is reviewing the draft ordinance. One commissioner said, "Our city attorney has asked all of us to refrain from speaking about any specific proposal the appropriate time on the agenda," and the director noted it would be counterproductive to discuss an item while it is under attorney review.

A commissioner also disclosed that Commissioner Hutchinson will not participate in data-center discussion because of his work affiliation, reflecting a conflict-of-interest precaution. Members directed residents with enforcement questions to the City Commission, noting that the Planning Commission does not itself perform enforcement.

No formal action was taken on the data-center ordinance at this meeting; commissioners said the matter will return after the attorney's review and appropriate procedural steps.