Temple Moves to Increase Public Oversight on Data Centers Following State Lead
Temple city officials are proposing significant revisions to their Unified Development Code to increase public oversight of data center construction, including a new Conditional Use Permit requirement. This move follows rapid data center expansion in East Bell County by developers like Rowan Digital Infrastructure and prior community opposition, including an unsuccessful recall petition against city leadership. The proposed changes will undergo public hearings and council readings in September.
Temple city officials are moving to implement stricter regulations on data center construction, mirroring a statewide trend initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The city's Planning & Zoning Commission introduced proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) on August 17. These revisions aim to enhance public oversight and establish more stringent requirements for commercial technology facilities.
The key change involves introducing a mandatory Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for all future data center construction. If adopted, this would require developers to obtain explicit city approval, even in areas where industrial technology installations are typically permitted by right. This additional permitting layer would enable city leadership to demand comprehensive technical evaluations, specialized environmental impact studies, and custom site restrictions before granting construction clearance.
These regulatory adjustments come amidst a surge in data center development in East Bell County, with five facilities already approved or under construction. Rowan Digital Infrastructure, a primary developer, is currently seeking authorization for a sixth site. The rapid expansion has ignited local debate, leading to an earlier, albeit unsuccessful, recall petition targeting Temple's Mayor and two city council members who had previously supported data center projects.
The Temple City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and a first reading on the proposed UDC updates during its September 3 meeting, followed by a final second reading on September 17.