Title
Public Hearing - Amend City Code - Ordinance Adoption - Data Centers - Z-TA-2-25-Y (Ordinance G-7396) - Citywide
Description
Request to hold a public hearing on a proposed text amendment Z-TA-2-25-Y and to request City Council approval per the Planning Commission recommendation which amends the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance Chapter 2, Section 202 (Definitions) to add a definition for data centers; amend Chapter 5, Section 507 Tab A.II.D (Guidelines for Design Review, City-Wide Design Review Guidelines, Specialized Uses) to modify the section title and add design standards for data centers; and amend Chapter 6, Section 647 (Special Permit Uses), Section 647.A.2 to add data centers within the C-2 (Intermediate Commercial), C-3 (General Commercial), CP/GCP (Commerce Park/General Commerce Park), A-1 (Light Industrial), and A-2 (Industrial) zoning districts, with a Special Permit and performance standards. This is a companion case to GPA-2-25-Y and should be heard following GPA-2-25-Y.
Report
Summary
The intent of the proposed text amendment is to create a regulatory framework for data centers where no City Council approved framework currently exists. Data centers are not defined nor are they explicitly listed as a permitted use in the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance; therefore were addressed via informal interpretation based upon land use characteristics of early smaller scale data center type uses. This text amendment will create a new definition for “data center”; create design guidelines such as setback requirements and screening design standards for equipment enclosures and accessory public utility buildings and facilities, such as electrical substations; and create enhanced landscaping, architectural, and streetscape standards to soften the design of data centers so they can better blend into the surrounding environment they are built in; and develop location criteria and performance standards for data centers. This includes spacing from high-capacity transit; noise standards to reduce the impact of data centers when located within a certain distance from residential; and allow data centers only in the following zoning districts: C-2, C-3, CP/GCP, A-1 and A-2 with a Special Permit.
Applicant: City of Phoenix, Planning Commission
Representative: City of Phoenix, Planning and Development Department
Staff Recommendation: Approval of Z-TA-2-25-Y as shown in Exhibit A of the Staff Report (Attachment B).
VPC Action: Fourteen Village Planning Committees have considered the request. Two VPCs recommended approval, per the staff recommendation; three VPCs recommended approval, per the staff recommendation, with direction; one VPC recommended approval, per the staff recommendation, with a modification; one VPC recommended approval, per the staff recommendation, with a modification and direction; three VPCs recommended denial; four VPCs recommended denial, with direction; and one VPC did not have quorum, as reflected in Attachment C.
PC Action: The Planning Commission heard this item on June 5, 2025 and recommended approval, per the memo from the Planning and Development Department Deputy Director dated June 4, 2025, by a vote of 9-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson and the Planning and Development Department.