San Antonio leaders divided on all-out data center development pause
San Antonio City Council is currently debating a potential pause or new regulations for data center development due to growing concerns over noise, energy consumption, and land use. Councilman Rick Galvan proposed a temporary moratorium, while city staff and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones are advocating for permanent changes to the city's development code, including zoning restrictions and noise caps. Staff are set to present options to the council in October.
San Antonio leaders are divided on how to approach the increasing development of data centers within the city. With at least 23 data centers already operational and more planned, Councilman Rick Galvan has spearheaded an effort to implement a pause on further development, citing concerns about noise, energy consumption, and land occupation.
During a recent City Council meeting, city staff, led by Development Services Director Amin Tomas, suggested that a temporary construction pause would only last 180 days and would not offer a permanent solution. Instead, staff recommended adding new requirements to the city's development code, which would be permanent. Proposed regulations include restricting data center construction to specific zones and maintaining a 500-foot buffer from homes and schools to mitigate noise, a significant annoyance associated with these facilities.
The discussion revealed a range of opinions among council members. While some supported updating city code to address future data centers, others expressed concern that an all-out pause could negatively impact employment and drive jobs out of the city. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones also contributed to the conversation, proposing measures such as noise caps and requirements for developers to double the amount of green space eliminated during construction. City staff are now tasked with considering these ideas and will return to the council in October with viable options ahead of a potential vote.