Labor-backed citizens group appeals North San Jose data center proposal
A labor-backed group, Citizens for Responsible Industry, has appealed the San Jose Planning Department's approval of a data center project at 300 Holger Way. The appeal cites concerns that city planners did not adequately assess the environmental impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act, particularly regarding the project's electrical power needs. The San Jose City Council will now review the appeal and make a final decision.
Citizens for Responsible Industry, a coalition including labor organizations, has filed an administrative appeal against the San Jose Planning Department's approval of a data center project within an existing building at 300 Holger Way in North San Jose. The group alleges that city planners failed to conduct a proper environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Kelilah Federman, an attorney representing the coalition, stated in the 54-page appeal that the staff report did not accurately describe the project. The coalition argues that a data center requiring 20 megawatts of power would necessitate significant exterior equipment and electrical upgrades, including a transformer, emergency generator, and back-up battery installations, which should be analyzed under CEQA. Project plans indicate that an estimated 85% of the 97,800-square-foot research and development building would be dedicated to computer equipment space.
Erik Schoennauer, a land-use consultant advising the property owner, maintains that an exhaustive CEQA review is not currently necessary because no new construction or alterations to the building's exterior are proposed. He stated that any future proposals for generators or cooling equipment would trigger the required environmental review.
The San Jose City Council is scheduled to hold a hearing on the appeal in October, where it will make the final decision on the data center proposal. This development occurs amidst broader community concerns regarding data center developments in other California cities like Oakley, Pittsburg, Brentwood, and Gilroy.