Coachella Set to Discuss Approval of Data Center Ban Extension
The Coachella City Council will consider extending its temporary ban on data center developments for an additional 10 months and 15 days, pushing the moratorium to June 2027. This action follows an initial 45-day ban implemented after community protests over environmental and health concerns related to a proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus, with city staff now recommending a permanent prohibition on such facilities.
The Coachella City Council is scheduled to discuss a proposal to extend its temporary moratorium on data center developments for an additional 10 months and 15 days, effectively prolonging the ban until June 4, 2027. This consideration comes after the council previously adopted an urgency ordinance on June 4, imposing a 45-day moratorium on new applications and simultaneously terminating an agreement with a developer for the planned Coachella Valley Technology Campus, a project slated for 240 acres of agricultural land. The initial moratorium was a direct response to sustained protests from local community members who voiced concerns about environmental and health impacts.
Since the initial ban, city staff have conducted extensive reviews, including examining existing city regulations, holding public hearings, performing a zoning analysis, and consulting legal counsel. Based on these findings, city staff are now recommending that the council approve a new ordinance to permanently prohibit data centers and related uses throughout the city. This proposed permanent ban is anticipated to be brought before the city's planning commission on July 18. The city council meeting for this discussion is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.