Agenda Item Wording:
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Urgency Ordinance – Consider adoption of Ordinance 2026-10, an interim urgency ordinance to be adopted as a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval, or issuance of permits and entitlements for new data center development within the City of Visalia pursuant to California Government Code Section 65858 (4/5’s approval of the City Council is required for passage).
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Agenda Date: 09/08/2026
Prepared by:
Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, (559) 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.gov
James Koontz, City Attorney
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 2026-10, an interim urgency ordinance placing a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval, or issuance of permits and entitlements for new data center development while the City considers land use regulations governing new data centers within the City of Visalia pursuant to California Government Code Section 65858 (4/5’s approval of the City Council is required for passage).
Summary:
Communities throughout the state and country are and/or have experienced detrimental effects of “data center” land uses, including, but not limited to, intensive energy and water use, noise, air quality, water and noise pollution, aesthetic impacts, and quality of life to surrounding communities/neighborhoods. Data center development often necessitates unique and/or abnormally large utility infrastructure connections to electrical and water systems where this type of infrastructure demand may be in conflict with communities/regions which are not equipped to support such uses based on the load intensity these uses require.
Currently, the City of Visalia does not regulate nor define “data center” land uses, including location, size and scope, and other development standards in the Zoning Ordinance. By enacting a temporary moratorium, the City Council and staff would have the necessary latitude to study, de...
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