Council approves minor general-plan amendment and rezoning to I-2 for 'Blue Stem' site with no-data-center stipulation

The City Council approved a minor general-plan amendment (Resolution 5273.45) to change roughly 25.4 acres from downtown to manufacturing/industry and then adopted Ordinance 1178.477 rezoning approximately 49 acres from I-1 (light industrial) to I-2 (general industrial) for a property near the northwest corner of Florence Street and Peters Road.

Staff presented the request as a “cleanup” to align a split designation and to increase inventory of shovel‑ready industrial land. The applicant’s representative said the site is surrounded by industrial zoning and argued I-2 zoning would make the property more attractive to advanced industrial employers and suppliers tied to the regional semiconductor supply chain. The applicant and economic development advocates highlighted potential “basic employment” (higher-paying jobs) and the area’s proximity to existing industrial uses.

Council asked whether data centers could be limited; staff and the applicant said the owner was willing to stipulate to a prohibition on data centers and the council added a condition (condition no. 5) to prohibit data centers on the parcel. Staff reminded council that, under the city’s code, data centers may also be permitted as a conditional use in other zones (including I-1), so a conditional‑use review remains a tool for future parcel-level decisions.

After public hearing testimony in support from local economic development representatives and a representative speaking for the property owner, the council approved the minor general plan amendment by roll call and subsequently approved the rezoning ordinance with conditions 1–4 (and the no-data-center stipulation noted in the public discussion).