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Forney council directs staff to pursue zoning text amendment to remove data centers as conditional use
Summary
Council voted to direct staff to begin a zoning text amendment to remove data centers as a conditional use in the Light Industrial district and evaluate a citywide prohibition, after council members expressed concern about water, power, noise, and land-use impacts.
Council heard staff summarize the April 21 ordinance (26-12) that defined data centers and allowed them conditionally in Light Industrial. Staff said the prior ordinance set parking and a 1,000-foot separation from residential properties and required full enclosure of cooling and generator equipment.
Councilmember Sarah Salgado urged a citywide ban: "Forney is closed to data centers," she said, asking staff to pursue a prohibition rather than leaving data centers as a conditional option. Councilmember Traylor moved to direct staff to initiate the zoning text amendment process and to provide scope guidance; the motion passed. Staff will evaluate whether the definition, parking standard, and separation provisions should be retained or repealed and will address ETJ and utility-control considerations as part of the package.
