Reno council moves to rewrite data‑center rules after hours of public comment; moratorium slated for next agenda

Reno City Council on April 22 voted unanimously to initiate a staff-led amendment to the city’s zoning code to address data-center development and its local impacts, after a marathon public comment period in which residents, tribal representatives and environmental groups urged a temporary halt to new approvals.

The council’s action directs staff to draft changes to Title 18 that would clarify where and how data centers can locate, strengthen siting and design standards, and require more detail on water, power and noise. Vice Mayor Martinez moved the measure; the motion passed with unanimous support. Council members also asked staff to place a separate moratorium resolution on the next council agenda so the body can consider a formal temporary pause under Reno Municipal Code chapter 1.07.

Why it matters: hundreds of residents turned out for the discussion on a single agenda item, arguing data centers can consume large amounts of water and power in a region that drains to the Truckee watershed and Pyramid Lake. Dozens of speakers asked the council to require stricter cooling systems, limits on backup generators, and consultation with sovereign tribal nations at the terminus of the watershed.

Public testimony: Sierra Club collaborator Robin Palmer told the council, “I support a text amendment for data centers and a moratorium on data centers until a text amendment is adopted,” framing the day’s message that regulators should set new guardrails before more projects proceed. Members of the Water Over Data Alliance and dozens of other residents described worries about groundwater, diesel generators, noise and the long‑term fiscal impacts of tax abatements. One frequent commenter said the Truckee River’s health and cultural values at Pyramid Lake must be protected first.

Council response and next steps: Council members and city legal staff stressed the legal and procedural differences between initiating a text amendment and imposing a moratorium. City attorney advice and city manager briefing explained that a moratorium is a two‑step process under the municipal code—first a pending-resolution placement on an agenda, then a publicly noticed final resolution—that can be scheduled by council direction. Manager Jackie Bryant confirmed a request from Councilmember Reese asking staff to place a moratorium item on the next meeting agenda for council consideration.

Staff said they will coordinate the Title 18 amendment with the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency (TMRPA). TMRPA staff told the council they expect to deliver a regional set of recommendations this summer; staff estimated a prioritized regional report could be ready in August, enabling the city to pursue regional consistency on siting, cooling, power and reporting requirements.

What passed: the council’s motion initiates a code amendment that will (among other topics) examine definitions, siting and buffer rules, design/noise limits, requirements for closed‑loop or water‑efficient cooling, and reporting and monitoring obligations for large facilities. A separate moratorium resolution must be placed on a future agenda for council action and public notice before it would take effect.

Other items at the meeting: the council also adopted an ordinance to raise sewer enterprise charges (effective July 1), received an update on FY26–27 budget planning and a redevelopment (RDA) briefing showing both RDA districts approaching debt payoff and new tax‑increment capacity, and directed staff to initiate an 18‑month pilot to allow certain downtown indoor venues to operate live entertainment with a cabaret license plus a city‑approved security plan in place.

The council asked staff to return in May with detailed proposals — the zoning text amendment process, regional coordination timeline, and the moratorium paperwork — and to report back to the council before any final actions are adopted. The City Clerk’s office has posted written public comments and correspondence for the record on Reno.gov.

Ending: Councilmembers said the public turnout — more than 100 commenters and hundreds of written submissions on data centers — makes the issue a high council priority. Staff said they will move quickly to draft the code language and to coordinate the regional review; moratorium procedure will be placed on an upcoming agenda for council consideration.