Adelanto and High Desert Residents Oppose Data Center Amendments
Adelanto's Planning Commission rejected a proposed zoning amendment that would have allowed data centers and new energy infrastructure, following strong opposition from High Desert residents. Concerns focused on water scarcity, unmet basic needs, and a lack of transparency regarding the city's development priorities. The proposal may still go before the Adelanto City Council for a final decision.
The Adelanto Planning Commission has rejected Zone Text Amendment 26-01, a proposal that would have modified city zoning to allow data centers and new energy infrastructure in Light Manufacturing, Manufacturing Industrial, and Airport Development District zones. The decision followed a contentious August 19 meeting where numerous High Desert residents and advocates voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about water scarcity, the city's failure to address existing basic needs, and a lack of transparency in land-use decisions.
Esmeralda Santos, lead organizer for the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IC4IJ), highlighted that residents are already organizing around water issues, with reports of discolored and poor-tasting tap water predating the data center debate. Opponents emphasized that the resource-intensive nature of data centers, particularly their water and electricity demands, conflicted with the community's unmet needs for essential services like healthcare and reliable water.
While the amendment would not have approved specific data center projects, it would have established the regulatory framework for future development, with individual projects still requiring separate discretionary approval and environmental review. Despite city staff arguing the changes would benefit economic development, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 against the amendment. However, the vote is advisory, and the proposal can still be considered by the Adelanto City Council, which holds final authority.