Arlington TX Considers New Data Center Zoning Rules
Arlington officials are considering draft zoning rules for data centers before a specific project has been proposed. The rules would address siting, setbacks, building height, noise, water use, cooling systems and backup power, but no final adoption has occurred.
Arlington City Council members reviewed draft ordinances intended to establish how different types of data centers could be located and operated in the nearly built-out city. The proposals would classify stand-alone facilities as high-impact uses, require special-use permits in industrial districts, impose a 300-foot separation from homes, limit building height to 75 feet and restrict evaporative cooling. They also include noise-testing requirements and water-use and discharge standards.
Land development assistant director Kenneth Bloom said the rules were tailored to Arlington and remain subject to change. Council member Brittney Garcia-Dumas supported keeping facilities away from homes and requiring noise modeling before permits are issued. The discussion reflects broader Texas concerns about data center demand, electricity consumption, water use and noise, but Arlington has not approved a specific data center project or finalized the proposed regulations.