By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
A debate already playing out in communities across Texas reached Plano City Hall on Monday as multiple residents urged city leaders to consider new regulations on data center development, including a potential moratorium and changes to the city’s zoning code.
The comments came during the public comment portion of the Plano City Council meeting and reflected concerns that have surfaced in communities across Texas as demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure continues to grow.
Residents Call for Moratorium and Zoning Changes
Among those addressing the council was Kyle McGinn, who urged Plano officials to begin examining how data centers are regulated within the city.
“You have a couple of options,” McGinn told council members. “First, you can start the process of exploring the data center moratorium. Second, you can add a special zoning category for data centers to the Unified Development Code the city has been working on.”
McGinn argued that concerns about data center development are spreading across communities in Texas and said Plano should address the issue before additional projects are proposed.
His recommendation centered on the city’s ongoing Unified Development Code update, which could establish specific standards for future data center development.
The suggestion to create a dedicated zoning category reflects a broader discussion taking place in some Texas communities where residents and local officials have questioned whether existing zoning regulations adequately address the scale and infrastructure needs of modern data centers.
Residents Signal Continued Opposition
Shirley Lawson echoed those concerns, urging council members to place the issue on a future agenda and consider additional discussion of data center development.
“If our needs aren’t met and the item agenda that he has suggested don’t get on here, that’s what I’m going to spend all my time doing,” Lawson said.
“I can recruit people. I can call people. I can block walk for these people.”
Lawson said residents concerned about data center development are prepared to become more active in local politics and noted that several council members face reelection in 2027.
Why Data Centers Are Drawing Attention
Data centers have become an increasingly visible development issue across Texas as technology companies expand infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services.
The facilities can require substantial amounts of electricity and, depending on their design, significant water resources for cooling. As more projects have been proposed across the state, residents in several communities have questioned whether existing zoning and development regulations adequately address their impact on surrounding neighborhoods and local infrastructure.
Those concerns have prompted some communities to explore zoning changes, additional development requirements and, in some cases, temporary moratoriums while local officials study potential impacts.
McGinn’s recommendation that Plano consider a separate zoning category would place the issue within the city’s ongoing Unified Development Code update, a process expected to shape local development regulations for years to come.
A Growing Debate Across Texas
The concerns raised in Plano are part of a broader conversation unfolding across Texas as communities grapple with the rapid growth of data centers and other energy-intensive developments.
The issue has surfaced closer to home as well. Earlier this year in Princeton, Councilwoman Cristina Todd raised concerns about data centers being permitted under the city’s C-2 zoning district, questioning whether existing regulations provided adequate protections for nearby residential neighborhoods.
In other Texas communities, residents have pushed for zoning changes, development restrictions or temporary moratoriums while local officials study potential impacts. As demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure continues to grow, questions about where data centers should be located and how they should be regulated are becoming a larger part of local planning discussions.
What’s Next for Plano?
The Plano City Council did not discuss data centers during Monday’s meeting, and no related agenda item was considered.
Still, multiple residents urged city leaders to examine the issue through the city’s ongoing Unified Development Code update, including potential zoning changes and a possible moratorium on future projects.
Whether those requests eventually make their way onto a future council agenda remains to be seen.