Board approves compromise limits on data center density after debate over downtown impacts

The Board of Aldermen voted to perfect a revised data‑center zoning ordinance after hours of debate over how the city should balance economic benefits against neighborhood impacts. The motion to perfect board bill 49 as amended on the floor reflects a compromise on density: within H, I and L districts a new data‑center use will generally be capped at 30% of a building within 300 feet of an existing facility, but a higher allowance (up to 50%) requires substantially stronger ground‑floor activation.

Alderwoman from the 1st, the bill's sponsor, framed the measure as the product of “dozens of hours of public hearings” and many community comments, saying the current amendment “restores the language as it came out of HUDs” while also reflecting board changes. Opponents warned that data centers do not bring people to street‑level retail. As the Alderman from the 9th put it during debate: “What a data center really is is it's vacancy of people…These are buildings full of machines mostly.” The board first voted down a planning‑commission restoration (Amendment 1) before adopting Amendment 2, the sponsor's compromise that narrows potential data‑center footprints while boosting active uses at street level.

The sponsor said the compromise keeps the downtown’s long‑term goals in mind while imposing enforceable limits on density and requiring ground‑floor uses such as office or retail to encourage pedestrian activity. The board directed that the amended measure return to the planning commission for review before a planned third reading on Sept. 11; the sponsor also noted the board could override planning commission rejections with a 10‑vote threshold.