Decatur council to discuss creating data center overlay district
The Decatur City Council is set to discuss a proposed ordinance for a data center overlay district at its upcoming meeting. This proactive measure aims to provide the city with specific zoning tools to manage potential data center developments in the future, addressing concerns over water, power, and land resources. No specific data center developer has approached the city yet.
The Decatur City Council in Texas is scheduled to discuss a proposed ordinance on September 28th to establish a data center overlay district. This measure is intended to equip the city with a specific zoning tool should a data center developer express interest in the future, rather than addressing an immediate proposal.
City Manager Nate Mara confirmed that no data center developers have approached Decatur, emphasizing that this is a proactive step. He stated that the city aims to guide future conversations and have processes in place to protect finite resources like water, power, and land. Mara cited Texas Senate Bill 15, which eroded local control on development, as a reason for the city to be prepared for potential future legislation affecting data centers. The council will hold the discussion at Decatur City Hall, but no action will be taken during this meeting.