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County staff proposes 20 MW threshold to separate 'enterprise' from 'hyperscale' data centers; commissioners ask for flexibility
Summary
Staff proposed a 20-megawatt threshold as a starting point to distinguish smaller enterprise data centers from hyperscale facilities and suggested routing larger loads to industrial zones; commissioners noted current proposals (125–500 MW) exceed that level and asked staff to keep the threshold under review.
Staff said the draft zoning text uses a commonly referenced 20 megawatt threshold to distinguish smaller enterprise centers from larger hyperscale facilities that should be sited in industrial zones. "The 20 megawatt limit is one being used by the state...That seems to be relatively low from what we're hearing right now," Scott Chesney said when explaining the origin and rationale for the threshold.
Commissioners questioned whether 20 MW would remain appropriate given developer interest in much larger loads; staff acknowledged the number is an initial starting point drawn from state and association guidance and said the Planning Commission could adjust the figure as it evaluates local conditions and proposals that propose 125–500 MW.
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