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Rowlett begins drafting special‑use permit rules for data centers; council schedules executive session for legal review
Summary
Staff proposed defining 'data center' in the development code and requiring a special use permit (SUP) in certain districts, including proposed development standards for setbacks, noise mitigation, third‑party inspections, and utility impact studies; council agreed to consult the city attorney in executive session about distance and setback language.
City planner Munal presented draft code amendments that would define and regulate data centers by requiring a special use permit in manufacturing districts and certain form‑based commercial zones. The staff draft defines a data center to include facilities, campuses or portions of buildings used primarily to house, operate, manage, process, store, transmit, mine or otherwise support computer services, cloud computing, artificial‑intelligence systems, telecom equipment, blockchain and cryptocurrency operations or colocation systems.
Munal walked council through proposed development standards: noise and vibration mitigation (sound‑absorptive materials and third‑party annual inspections), lighting and reflective‑finish restrictions, and buffer/setback proposals that would prohibit siting within 3,000 feet of an existing residential structure and within one mile of residential zoning, schools, parks or hospitals as shown in the draft. Council members asked for an accompanying utility‑impact study to quantify electricity and water demand, raised concerns about decommissioning (requiring bonds or remediation plans), and ultimately moved the item into executive session to obtain confidential legal advice on whether setback/distance language could functionally act as a moratorium.
