Phoenix Reevaluates Zoning for Data Centers Amid Land Use Concerns
Municipal leaders in Phoenix are taking proactive steps to address the burgeoning growth of data centers, which has raised concerns about land utilization in the city. As the number of these facilities continues to increase, officials are worried about their impact on available land.
In recent years, Arizona has seen a notable rise in the establishment of data centers, with Phoenix hosting numerous facilities according to various tracking platforms. This surge has prompted city officials to reconsider how these centers fit into the overall urban landscape.
In response to these developments, the Phoenix City Council made a decision late last year to re-examine the zoning policies applicable to data centers. The council recognized that current zoning definitions lack clarity and needed revision.
Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson has been assigned the task of formulating specific zoning definitions for data centers. Additionally, he is working on updating the land-use policy within the city’s general plan to better accommodate these facilities.
Stephenson has also been instructed to overhaul the process for development agreements related to data centers. “At the end of the day that when they’re taking up a lot of the land area by these really large land-intensive but not job-intensive uses, you know, it makes the city much less efficient,” he remarked.
The draft policy is expected to be completed by early summer, providing a more structured approach to managing the growth and integration of data centers in Phoenix.
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