Gilbert delays action on data center regulations
The Gilbert Town Council delayed action on proposed data center regulations and directed staff to revise them before returning Dec. 15. The proposal would restrict data centers to industrial-zoned land, require a 650-foot residential setback, ban open-loop evaporative cooling, and limit potable water use for cooling, while residents and some council members raised concerns about noise, heat, electricity and water consumption.
The Gilbert Town Council postponed a vote on enhanced data center regulations and asked town staff to revise the proposal over the next two months. The rules under consideration would limit large data centers to Light Industrial and General Industrial areas, require a 650-foot setback from homes, ban open-loop evaporative cooling systems and generally prohibit the use of Gilbert’s potable water for cooling principal data centers. Accessory data centers serving existing businesses would remain eligible to use town drinking water under the revised proposal.
Vice Mayor Chuck Bongiovanni and Councilman Monte Lyons supported taking more time to study the future of large and smaller, accessory data centers and seek input from the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. Councilwoman Yung Koprowski and Councilman Kenny Buckland favored moving ahead, while Buckland was the lone vote against delaying the action. Residents, including Nicki Reber, opposed additional data center development, citing potential noise, heat, electricity demand and water use. Gilbert currently has one data center, AZO1 Phoenix, operated by US Signal at Sunrise Business Park.