Council to direct attorney to regulate large-scale data centers
The Brawley City Council is directing its City Attorney to draft comprehensive amendments to the municipal zoning ordinance aimed at regulating large-scale data centers. This proactive move responds to the expanding tech industry in California's Imperial Valley, addressing concerns about the heavy energy and land footprints of data infrastructure. The council also plans to adopt the city's 2025 Urban Water Management Plan to ensure future water reliability.
The Brawley City Council is set to vote on a resolution that would direct City Attorney William S. Smerdon to draft comprehensive amendments to the municipal zoning ordinance, specifically targeting the regulation of large-scale data centers. This initiative is a proactive step in response to the rapid expansion of the tech industry within California's Imperial Valley.
City officials aim to balance economic growth with concerns over the substantial energy and land demands of data infrastructure by establishing clear guidelines before new projects can begin. The council will also address local business issues through zoning amendments, including defining "caretakers" and "caretaker's residences" for heavy commercial and light industrial zones, and formally permitting "water stores" in various commercial zones while prohibiting them in Service & Professional zones.
Additionally, the council will hold a public hearing to adopt the city's 2025 Urban Water Management Plan Update, presented by Acting Public Works & Operations Manager Ana Gutierrez. This plan will outline Brawley's water reliability for the next two decades, asserting that the city's water supply, managed by the Imperial Irrigation District, is secure against climate-related shortages through 2045.