New Braunfels City Council has tasked staff with drafting an amendment to the city code that would make it harder for data centers to be built without meeting stricter standards. The proposal, discussed at a regular council meeting on August 24 and revisited at a special session on October 19, seeks to add a clear definition of a data center and set baseline requirements for any future projects.
Why the change is needed
Currently, Chapter 144 of the municipal code does not define data centers, nor does it specify a zoning district where such facilities are expressly permitted. As a result, a data center could potentially be approved in the M‑2 and M‑2A industrial zones, or receive a special use permit (SUP) in the M‑1 and M‑1A districts. Council members expressed concern that this lack of clarity could allow large, power‑intensive facilities to be placed too close to residential neighborhoods, schools, nursing homes, parks, and other sensitive uses.
Proposed safeguards
Director of Neighborhood and Community Planning Christopher Looney outlined the staff recommendation, which includes several concrete safeguards:
- A mandatory definition of “data center” in the code.
- Requirement that the property be located in a base industrial zoning district and receive a Type 2 special use permit.
- A minimum 500‑foot setback from any residential area or other sensitive uses such as nursing homes, parks, and schools.
- Submission of a noise study and an approved traffic impact analysis.
- Detailed site plans and building elevations for council review.
- A maximum allowable noise level of 55 decibels.
- Use of evaporative or closed‑loop cooling systems rather than open‑loop designs.
- Prohibition of development within the floodway, the 100‑year floodplain, or any Edwards Aquifer recharge or contributing zones.
These standards would give the council the ability to evaluate each proposed site in relation to surrounding land uses and infrastructure, and to solicit public input as well as feedback from property owners within a 200‑foot radius.
Mayor and council perspectives
Mayor Michael French emphasized the importance of preserving local resources, stating, “I don’t think there should be any light pollution at all. These guys should work in the dark,” and adding that he does not want New Braunfels water or electricity supplied to data centers. District 4 council member Lawrence Spradley highlighted the role of special use permits, noting that council members have the authority to reject projects that could cause excessive noise, light, or vibration.
Current landscape
At present, no data centers are under construction within New Braunfels city limits. However, two facilities—Cloudburst and Palomino Alpha—are being built in neighboring Guadalupe County. Local residents and the Data Center Action Coalition have filed a lawsuit against the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court in an effort to halt those developments.
Next steps
The council will review the draft amendment at upcoming meetings, with public comment periods built into the process. If adopted, the ordinance would give New Braunfels a clearer framework for evaluating data center proposals, balancing economic development opportunities with the community’s desire for quiet, safe, and well‑planned neighborhoods.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
