Aurora passes stringent rules on future data center developments

Aurora has officially overhauled its regulatory requirements for data center developments, introducing significant new hurdles for future projects as a six-month moratorium on the sector concluded. The city council voted on Tuesday to implement strict new standards governing where these facilities can be built and how they manage resource consumption. Mayor John Laesch indicated these measures reflect growing municipal concerns over the impact of industrial-scale computing on local infrastructure and residential quality of life, a sentiment also reported by The Daily Herald. The updated ordinance formally integrates a specific definition for "data center" into the zoning code, classifying them as conditional uses that necessitate public hearings and specific city council approval. This ends their previous classification as simple warehouses. Future development is now restricted to areas zoned for manufacturing, office, research, or light-industrial activities. New setback requirements are a key component of the new regulations, aiming to mitigate noise pollution. Rooftop generators are now prohibited entirely, while rooftop chillers must maintain a minimum 1,500-foot distance from sensitive lot lines. Ground-based equipment faces a 1,000-foot setback, a measure that city zoning administrator John Curley noted would significantly limit viable development sites. Sustainability mandates were also introduced, requiring new or expanded facilities to generate at least 25 percent of their peak electricity needs from on-site renewable sources or install resilience storage systems. Developers must now provide comprehensive modeling reports covering sound levels, water consumption, and energy usage to secure building permits. Aurora currently hosts five operational data centers, with an additional five in the development pipeline and two more applications under review.