Anna's Planning & Zoning Commission holds a public hearing Monday on changes to the rules for the city's two industrial zoning districts, including the first entry in the zoning ordinance for data centers and cryptocurrency mining.
The agenda, posted Tuesday, lists a single action item: a recommendation on amendments to the zoning ordinance covering the Light Industrial (I-1) and Heavy Industrial (I-2) districts, their allowed uses and development standards. A 207-page redlined copy of the ordinance is attached. The commission's recommendation goes to the City Council, which has the final say.
A new use: "Data and Research Warehouse"
The draft defines a Data and Research Warehouse as a building or facility used mainly to store, manage, process and transmit digital data, including servers and network equipment. The definition names data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities as examples.
Under the redline, that use could go only in the two industrial districts, and only with a specific use permit. Under the ordinance, each permit request gets public hearings before both the commission and the council, and the council decides by ordinance. Two conditions would also apply:
- The facility could not sit within 2,000 feet of a school or any religious land use.
- The applicant would have to submit will-serve letters from the water, wastewater, electric, natural gas and telecommunications providers, plus any other studies the development services director requires.
The proposal comes as cities across North Texas weigh how to handle data centers, which can draw heavily on power and water.
