Gilroy City Council Delays Vote on Data Center Zoning Amendments Amid Opposition
A local grassroots group, Stop Gilroy Center Now, is actively opposing future data center developments in Gilroy, California. The Gilroy City Council has postponed a vote until August on potential amendments to the review and approval process for development projects with significant environmental impacts, including data centers. The group vows to continue its advocacy despite the delay.
The Gilroy City Council has postponed a vote on amending the review and approval process for development projects with substantial environmental impacts, including data centers. The decision, originally scheduled for June 15, has been pushed to August.
The delay comes amidst strong opposition from a grassroots advocacy group called Stop Gilroy Center Now, which advocates for a ban on future data centers in Gilroy. Landon Sepulveda, a lead organizer with South Valley Community Resistance, the group behind the Stop Gilroy Data Center campaign, stated that over 100 people attended the June 15 city council meeting to object to future data center developments. Sepulveda, among dozens of speakers, supported amending the zoning code. He expressed frustration with the council's delay, stating that the group's main ask is not even this amendment, yet they are still "dragging their feet."
Sepulveda highlighted the group's concern that corporations with significant financial resources exploit smaller cities lacking robust ordinances. Despite the postponement, the Stop Gilroy Center Now group plans to continue its advocacy efforts, indicating ongoing community resistance to new data center construction.