AGENDA DATE: 1/22/2025
TITLE:
Title
ZTA 2024-02 Data Centers
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Proposal to make data centers over a minimum size permitted by special use permit with possible limited performance standards.
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Filardo, McCulley, Fritz
PRESENTER (S): Bill Fritz
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Data centers of unlimited size are currently permitted by right in industrial districts, and by special use permit in the C-1 Commercial and Commercial Office (CO) districts, among others. Data centers of up to 4,000 square feet are currently permitted by right in Highway Commercial (HC), Planned Development Shopping Center (PDSC), and Planned Development Mixed Commercial (PDMC) districts. Data centers of over 4,000 square feet are currently permitted by special exception in these districts.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality of Life - Encourage a vibrant community with economic and recreational opportunities that serve all community members.
DISCUSSION: Data centers are an emerging industry with unique impacts, including energy demand and associated infrastructure, sound, water consumption, and visual impacts, among others. To better address these impacts, staff is proposing to process two zoning text amendments. The first of these amendments would make data centers over a minimum size permitted by special use permit with possible limited performance standards.
Following adoption of this first zoning text amendment, staff would more thoroughly research the impacts of data centers and best practices to address these impacts. During the development of the second zoning text amendment, staff would engage the community, possibly including formal and informal contact, workshops, informational meetings, and Planning Commission work session(s).
Due to the limited scope of the first amendment and plans for a more extensive second amendment to follow, staff is proposing to move forward with proposed language and hold a public hearing with the Planning Commission in February 2025. A public hearing with the Board of Supervisors is proposed for April 2025.
BUDGET IMPACT: No budget impact is anticipated.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution of Intent (Attachment A) for an initial zoning text amendment to better address data centers.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Proposed Resolution of Intent