Data centers are classified as a conditional use rather than a by-right use in the M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial districts, requiring a conditional use permit under Article 17 before construction. (each applicant must apply for a conditional use permit)

The ordinance removes data centers from the broader by-right category of computer programming, data processing, and related services by expressly excluding data centers from that classification. (except Data Centers)

Each application must include a viewshed analysis with line-of-sight studies from at least four adjacent public rights-of-way or properties and visual simulations of proposed mitigation at installation and mature height in summer and winter. (line of sight analysis from at least four vantage points)

Applicants must obtain an electric utility letter identifying serving infrastructure, confirming adequate service, and estimating full-capacity energy use and voltage. (Electricity confirmations)

Applications must include a qualified-engineer noise study using ISO 9613 standards, nighttime and other ambient measurements, at least four property-line measurement points, sound modeling, and mitigation recommendations. (Noise study)

Applications must include a Fire Marshal-reviewed emergency response plan, including emergency-vehicle access, fire-protection systems, hydrant evaluations within 400 feet, responder training, and annual fire-safety inspections. (evaluation of all fire hydrants)

Applications must include approved landscape and lighting plans, including a photometric analysis for external lighting. (lighting plan)

Applicants must submit water-system, fire-protection, and sanitary-sewer capacity analyses demonstrating adequate public-system capacity, including projected domestic, process, cooling, fire-flow, and industrial-wastewater demands and any required off-site improvements. (sufficient public water system capacity)

Facilities qualifying as high energy use facilities, meaning those expected to require at least 100 megawatts, must submit an additional site assessment addressing sound impacts on nearby residences and schools and effects on ground and surface water, agricultural resources, parks, historic sites, and forestland. (100 megawatts or more)

Data centers must meet specified setbacks, buffer yards, fencing or berms, and landscaping requirements, including a 100-foot setback from rear or secondary front yards, a 100-foot setback from streets or rights-of-way, and a residential or agricultural separation measured from property lines and existing residences. (Table of required setbacks, buffer yards, landscaping, and fencing)

Data centers must connect to and be served by a public water system; private groundwater systems are prohibited. (Private groundwater systems shall be prohibited)

Generators may be used only for backup emergency power, may not be the primary electricity source, must meet EPA Tier 4 standards, and may be tested only from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays for a maximum of one hour per week for all generators combined. (limited to one hour per calendar week)

Generators may not be used behind the meter or to provide bridge power. (Generators may not be used behind-the-meter or to provide bridge power)

Data centers and ancillary equipment must not exceed the ambient noise environment established by the required noise study, and steady tonal noise is subject to separate daytime and nighttime C-weighted limits at residential or agricultural property boundaries. (shall not generate sound that exceeds the ambient noise environment)

A post-construction sound study must be completed no later than 12 months after issuance of a certificate of occupancy or when the facility becomes operational, whichever occurs first. (Not later than twelve months)

Data centers must comply with enhanced fire and life-safety requirements, including fire-apparatus access, at least two site access points, staging areas, automatic sprinkler systems, and any additional systems required by the Fire Marshal. (at least two properly spaced access points)

Data centers with battery energy storage systems must provide a hazard-mitigation analysis and use enhanced separation, suppression, detection, ventilation, explosion-control, and maximum-allowable-quantity measures, subject to Fire Marshal review. (hazard mitigation analysis)

The ordinance applies to all data centers operated after its effective date and applies to pre-existing data centers when they expand, are modified, or undergo a change of use. (pre-existing data centers upon expansion)

Data centers are expressly allowed as conditional uses in M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial districts, subject to a conditional use permit and the ordinance’s requirements. Data Centers | C | C | C | C | C | C

The Fentress Airfield Overlay District may authorize data centers in addition to uses allowed by the property’s underlying zoning, provided a conditional use permit is granted. any of the following uses may be authorized

City Council may approve data-center buildings up to 95 feet high through the conditional use permit when no adjacent property is zoned or used residentially and the added height does not interfere with a governmental easement or restriction. maximum height up to ninety-five (95) feet

Pre-existing data centers may continue operating and become subject to the new requirements only upon expansion, modification, or change of use under Article 15. to pre existing data centers upon expansion, modification, or change of use

Data centers may install generators for backup emergency power and to reduce service interruptions, although generators may not be the primary electricity source. generators to provide backup emergency power

Backup generators may be tested for up to one hour per calendar week, collectively, during weekday business hours, subject to the ordinance’s other generator restrictions. limited to one hour per calendar week for all generators

Battery energy storage systems, including systems used for uninterruptible power supply, are expressly permitted as accessory uses at data centers when they comply with the specified fire-safety and zoning requirements. data center that contains a battery energy storage system as an accessory use

When public water capacity is insufficient, a data center may provide an on-site private fire-protection water system, such as storage tanks, pumps, or looped supplies, subject to Fire Marshal approval. shall provide an on-site private fire protection water supply system