Hayward Council to consider move to ban data centers at its Sept. 15 meeting
The Hayward City Council will discuss a legislative referral to ban new data center development in the city at its Sept. 15 meeting. This action follows significant public outcry regarding the environmental and economic impacts of data centers. If approved, city staff will prepare a zoning code amendment to prohibit new data center construction.
The Hayward City Council is set to consider a potential ban on new data center development within the City of Hayward during its Sept. 15 meeting, City Manager Jennifer Ott announced.
The council will address a formal legislative referral initiated by Mayor Mark Salinas, Mayor Pro Tempore George Syrop, and Councilmember Angela Andrews. This referral directs city staff to begin the process of amending Hayward's zoning code to prohibit new data center construction, a move prompted by "significant public outcry" concerning the impacts of such facilities.
In addition to the proposed ban, the referral also mandates the establishment of a system to monitor and report on the economic and environmental effects of data centers that have already been approved or are currently operating in the city. Should a majority of Council members support the referral on Sept. 15, city staff will draft an ordinance or zoning code amendment for a subsequent Council vote.