Dallas City Council memo requests public meeting over data center regulations
Five Dallas City Council members have requested a public hearing and a vote on potential changes to the city's development code concerning data centers. The goal is to establish specific rules for data center developers, granting the city and its residents greater influence over the siting and construction of these facilities. Currently, data centers are classified as communications exchange facilities, allowing them to be built in non-residential and mixed-use zoning districts with minimal oversight.
The Dallas City Council is considering reviewing how data centers are regulated within the city. Five council members have submitted a memo requesting a public hearing and a subsequent vote on potential amendments to the city's development code for data centers. The primary objective of these changes is to establish specific regulations for data center developers, thereby increasing the city's and its residents' input on where and how these facilities are constructed.
Currently, data centers in Dallas are classified under the less stringent category of "communications exchange facilities." This classification permits developers considerable flexibility, allowing them to construct data centers in both non-residential and mixed-use zoning districts. Council Member Chad West highlighted via social media that this existing framework offers very limited oversight during the approval process for such developments.
As of now, the council's request is solely for the scheduling and holding of a public hearing to discuss these matters further.