REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action on an Appeal of the Planning Commission's Denial of a Variance and Conditional Use Permit (PLN22-00282) for the Construction of a New Four-Story, 111,978 Square Foot Data Center at 1231 Comstock Street
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
On December 13, 2022, Prime Data Centers applied for a Conditional Use Permit, Variance and Architectural Review (File No. PLN22-00282) to allow for the demolition of a one-story warehouse building and construction of a new four-story, 111,978 square foot data center with rooftop mechanical equipment, landscaping, and site improvements.
Pursuant to Table 6-1 (Chapter 18.112) of the Santa Clara City Code, Conditional Use Permits and Variances are decided by the Planning Commission. For the proposed project, the Architectural Review would be decided through the Development Review Hearing process.
Much of the City's industrial lands have historically been zoned as Light Industrial. With the 2010 comprehensive update of the City's General Plan, these light industrial areas were divided into multiple land use designations, including the Low-Intensity Office / Research and Development land use designation currently applied to the subject property. In February 2024, the City's adopted updated Zoning Code became effective, and in August 2024, the accompanying updated Zoning Map became effective, which rezoned the subject property to Low-Intensity Office / Research & Development (LO-RD) from Light Industrial (ML), which brought the General Plan and Zoning designations for the site into conformance.
With the adoption of the comprehensive Zoning Code Update, all sections except for Article 2, Zones, Allowable Uses, and Development Standards, went into effect on February 8, 2024. Article 2 went into effect on August 15, 2024, when the updated Zoning Map became effective. Zoning Code Section 18.02.070 - Effect of ...
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