DENTON, Texas — The Denton City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 13, and consider changes to the city's rules for data centers, including where they can be built and what standards they must meet.
The proposal, case DCA26-0007a, would amend the data center standards in the Denton Development Code, according to the council agenda for the special called meeting that begins at 2 p.m.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval. Commissioner Garland made the motion, and Commissioner Riggs seconded it, the agenda states.
What would change
According to the agenda, the amendments include, but are not limited to:
- Changes to the city's Table of Allowed Uses covering which zoning districts allow modular and warehouse data centers
- Changes to the use-specific standards for modular and warehouse data centers in the code's industrial uses section
- A new definition for an "enterprise data center"
The ordinance would set a maximum penalty of $2,000 for violations. It also includes a severability clause and an effective date.
Because the council will hold a public hearing, residents may speak on the proposal before the vote. The agenda lists Angie Manglaris as the staff contact for the case.
Outer Loop resolution also on the agenda
The same meeting agenda includes a resolution, ID 26-1456, supporting TxDOT's proposed alignments B and B2 for the Denton County Outer Loop project.
The Outer Loop is a planned regional roadway that Denton County and TxDOT are studying through a federal environmental review. The resolution would put the city on record supporting those route options. A final route has not been chosen.
What happens next
If the council adopts the data center ordinance, the new standards would take effect on the date set in the ordinance.
The meeting will be streamed online, and agenda materials are posted on the city's public meeting portal. Residents can also leave written comments on agenda items through the portal, where comments become part of the public record.