Motion to direct staff regarding data center classification and parameters, as requested by Council Members Kaylynn Paxson, Gil Hernandez, and Carolyn Vaughn: 1. Initiate a Unified Development Code amendment to define data centers as a distinct principal land use and amend the City's zoning and permitted-use tables to prohibit data centers in all zoning districts, rather than allowing them to be approved by default under existing office, data processing, utility, warehouse, industrial, or similar land-use categories. 2. An ETJ, utility, infrastructure, and public facilities protection policy requiring data centers and similar high-intensity digital infrastructure projects to enter into an IDA and to fully fund their own infrastructure needs, prevent cost-shifting to residents and ratepayers, provide verified water and wastewater planning, address electric and backup power impacts, mitigate community impacts, and receive separate City Council approval before receiving City utility service, infrastructure participation, development agreement approval, or economic development incentives. 3. The statutory notice, hearing, findings, and ordinance preparation process necessary for City Council consideration of a temporary development moratorium related to data centers and similar high-intensity digital infrastructure use.

Committee

City Council

Introduced

July 15, 2026

On agenda

July 21, 2026

Passed

July 21, 2026

Enacted

July 21, 2026

Enactment no.

M2026-070

Where it was heard

City Council Jul 21, 2026 passed Pass

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