REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Action on Environmental Impact Report, General Plan Amendment from High Intensity Office / Research and Development (R&D) to Light Industrial, Use Permit, and Architectural Review to Allow the Construction of a New Four-Story, 244,068 Square Foot Data Center with a Substation at 2805 Bowers Avenue
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
On August 4, 2021, HMH Engineers submitted an application, on behalf of GI Partners (Property Owner), for a General Plan Amendment, Use Permit, and Architectural Review to allow for the demolition of the existing 104,000 square-foot, two-story office building and construct a new four-story, 244,068 square foot data center with rooftop mechanical equipment, a substation, landscaping, and site improvements. Pursuant to the City's adopted Climate Action Plan, adopted by the City Council on June 7, 2022, the proposed data center is required to operate on 100% carbon-neutral energy, with offsets as needed.
The subject property was zoned Light Industrial at the time of application submittal, but is currently zoned High-Intensity Office/R&D (HO-RD) and has, and had at time of application, a General Plan land use designation of High-Intensity Office / Research and Development (HI O/R&D). Pursuant to the "classic" zoning code (18.48.030), as it was in effect on the date the application was deemed complete, a data center was not listed as a permitted use within this zoning district but could be allowed with the approval of a Use Permit. In addition, in accordance with the classic zoning code, the installation of the associated backup generators requires a Use Permit. The General Plan HI O/R&D designation does not support the development of a data center as a primary use, so the applicant filed an application for a General Plan Amendment to change the General Plan land use designation to Light Industrial, which would bring the ...
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