Schertz planners weigh defining data centers, propose SUPs for large facilities

Planning staff presented a workshop on adding a data‑center land‑use definition and use parameters. Daisy Marquez, senior planner, summarized the technology and city practice: data centers host servers and network equipment, demand high electricity and cooling capacity, can use substantial water for cooling, and often generate exterior noise from accessory equipment. "Per the 05/06/2026 planning and zoning commission meeting, we had a request to add data centers to the permitted use table and require an SUP," Marquez said.

Commissioners pressed staff on how to distinguish routine telecom or switching facilities from large data centers that require private substations and heavy infrastructure. Several members urged a surgical approach: require SUPs or higher‑intensity zoning (M2) for facilities that trigger substations, high water use, or very large footprint while allowing smaller telecom uses to remain classified as office/warehouse or be treated as nonconforming. Chair Wallace said his goal was "to make it as difficult as legally possible" to place large, high‑consumption data centers in Schertz; commissioners asked staff to research legal limits, utility impacts, and examples (Temple, McKinney, Frisco, Seguin) and to return with draft definitions and map‑based zoning recommendations.

Staff noted there are currently no active applications and that existing switching/data facilities (for example, a Verizon site on Tri County Parkway) are classified under office/warehouse and would be nonconforming under new definitions until expansion triggers an SUP. The commission did not adopt new code at the meeting; it directed staff to return with targeted code options, environmental and utility study requirements, and a recommended tiered approach.