Data Center Study
Council update and direction
Review priorities and public participation
September 2026
DATA CENTER STUDY
Why the City is studying data centers
The temporary moratorium gives the City time to evaluate impacts and adopt defensible local standards.
Water
Supply, groundwater constraints and drought resilience
Infrastructure
Electric, water, wastewater and stormwater capacity
Community impacts
Land use compatibility, noise, emissions and visual character Public safety
Fire protection, emergency response and hazardous materials CITY OF PATTERSON 02
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
1 Code review
Title 18 and other applicable City regulations
2 3
4 Public testimony and correspondence
continue to inform the review
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DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
1 Code review
Title 18 and other applicable City regulations
2 Comparative research
California approaches and professional guidance
4 Public testimony and correspondence
continue to inform the review
CITY OF PATTERSON 03
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
1 Code review
Title 18 and other applicable City regulations
2 Comparative research
California approaches and professional guidance
3 Technical review
Public safety, utilities, infrastructure and environmental risks 4 Public testimony and correspondence
continue to inform the review
CITY OF PATTERSON 03
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
1 Code review
Title 18 and other applicable City regulations
2 Comparative research
California approaches and professional guidance
3 Technical review
Public safety, utilities, infrastructure and environmental risks 4 Regulatory analysis
Zoning strategies, development standards and legal defensibility Public testimony and correspondence
continue to inform the review
CITY OF PATTERSON 03
DATA CENTER STUDY
1 2
3 4
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"Data center"
means a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. It generally includes redundant or backup power supplies, redundant data communications connections, environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression) and security devices. Data centers may also include related office space and personnel.
Work completed and underway
1 Code review
Title 18 and other applicable City regulations
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
1 Code review (continued)
Title 18 and other applicable City regulations
2 Patterson’s Zoning Code allows data centers “by right” in all Industrial Districts Limited City regulatory control, conditions of approval, and enforcement. 3 Development Standards for review are general, vulnerable to many modern data center impacts Plans would be reviewed for compliance with existing City standards for Architecture, massing, parking, landscaping, etc...
Current data center moratorium is limited in time and effect Currently ends in June 2027
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Attempts to apply more rigorous and protective project conditions would be subject, arbitrary and potentially vulnerable to legal challenge.
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
2 Comparative research
California approaches
2 • City of Santa Clara - Has some development standards, limited to façades, lighting, and structural noise reduction measures. • City of San José is in the middle of creating Data Center and Large Energy Uniform Standards 3 Most city code updates in California are minor and limited • Hayward requires that all new applications for data centers include a Sustainability Plan and a Community Benefits Plan • SB 887
• Some jurisdictions like Sacramento have elevated levels of review based on different circumstances of data centers. • Numerous cities are passing moratoriums to further evaluate how to proceed. • Coachella Council prohibited data centers in August; City of Monterey Park banned them via voter referendum in June.
Other examples in California
• Merely defining and now including “data centers” as a specific land use category; • Elevating levels of City review from limited to more extensive and public; and • Regionally and in Stanislaus County, jurisdictions are just beginning to evaluate new standards for review.
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Stand-alone data center standards – virtually non-existent in California
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
2 Comparative research (continued)
Professional guidance
2 • Louden County Virgina example.
• Chandler, AZ example
3 Some cities around the United States are leveraging various benefits • Data centers projects vary widely and significantly.
• Analysis is typically site and project specific.
Thorough quantification of potential impacts needed
• Property Tax advantages
• Job training; and
• Significant investments and corresponding modernization & “greening” of electrical systems.
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Numerous data center standards – throughout the United States
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
3 Technical review
Public safety, utilities, infrastructure and environmental risks 2 CITY OF PATTERSON 03
2 On-going, to become more focused
DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
4 Regulatory analysis
Zoning strategies, development standards and legal defensibility 2 3
4 CITY OF PATTERSON 03
2 DATA CENTER STUDY
Work completed and underway
4 Regulatory analysis
Zoning strategies, development standards and legal defensibility 3 4
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City of Hayward
• Requires new data centers to receive a Major Use Permit • Plus, a Community Benefit Plan
• “that would not otherwise, be required of the public.
City of San Jose
• The city is at the forefront of California's data center boom, implementing regulations that address the massive energy and water demands of these facilities
• City of San José is in the middle of creating Data Center and Large Energy Uniform Standards
DATA CENTER STUDY
Sample Process - Development & Adoption of New Data Center Regulations 1 Initial Stakeholder Outreach
Conduct meetings with environmental groups, labor organizations, business representatives, neighborhood associations, utilities, and industry stakeholders to gather input.
2 Community Engagement
Community listening session and developer roundtable to identify issues, concerns, and opportunities. 3 Stakeholder Workshops
Small-group roundtables with community members, developers, labor representatives, and environmental organizations to refine proposed standards.
4 Public Opinion & Policy Development
Deliberative polling process and City Council briefings to evaluate community perspectives and refine draft standards.
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5 DATA CENTER STUDY
Sample Process - Development & Adoption of New Data Center Regulations 5 Draft Standards Review
Community town hall and final public workshop to present draft regulations, receive comments, and make final adjustments 6 Final Policy Review
City Council briefings on the finalized proposed Data Center and Large Energy Project Uniform Standards. 7 Formal Adoption Process *
City Council consideration and potential adoption of new Data Center Regulations and Uniform Standards. 8 Implementation
Regulations become effective and are incorporated into development review and permitting processes.
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5 * City of San José process to conclude December 2026, to include “Large Energy-Use Projects”
DATA CENTER STUDY
Topics Council may prioritize
Water and wastewater
Demand thresholds, supply verification, conservation, reuse and capacity
Energy and infrastructure
Grid capacity, backup generation, reliability and cost allocation Public safety
Fire flow, battery systems, hazardous materials, staffing and response planning
Environmental and health
Air emissions, noise, heat, construction effects and cumulative impacts Land use and design
Location, setbacks, height, screening, lighting and compatibility Community and fiscal effects
Jobs, revenue, public-service costs and enforceable community benefits CITY OF PATTERSON 04
Direction 1
Which concerns should staff prioritize?
1 Identify the highest-priority impacts
2 Identify any outcomes or standards Council wants evaluated 3 Identify technical expertise or data Council expects staff to obtain Potential priorities: water, utilities, public safety, environmental and health effects, land use and design, fiscal and community effects
DATA CENTER STUDY
Public participation already required
1 Planning Commission
Public hearing on a proposed
zoning ordinance or amendment.
Notice generally follows state
planning law, including expanded
notice when permitted uses
change.
2 City Council
Public hearing before adoption of
the zoning ordinance, with the
proposal and recommendation
presented for Council action.
3 Every noticed meeting
Brown Act agenda, access and
public-comment requirements
apply to the legislative body
conducting the meeting.
Optional engagement can supplement these hearings. It does not replace them.
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DATA CENTER STUDY
Optional participation models
MODEL PRIMARY VALUE MEETING FRAMEWORK STAFF LOAD PRACTICAL EFFECT Survey and comment portal Broad input No new public body Low Good reach; limited dialogue Staff-led workshop or open house Open community
discussion
Generally no Brown Act body if staff leads and no Council quorum participates Medium Flexible format; staff summarizes themes Council ad hoc subcommittee Focused Council
guidance
May remain outside Brown Act only if temporary, less than a quorum, councilmember-only and narrowly tasked Medium Efficient; narrower public role Citizen advisory committee Sustained resident and
stakeholder input
Brown Act applies when Council formally creates the multimember committee High
More representation;
appointments, agendas and staff
support required
Planning Commission study
sessions
Public deliberation
within existing process Brown Act applies Medium Uses an existing body and planning expertise CITY OF PATTERSON 06
Direction 1
Which concerns should staff prioritize?
1 Identify the highest-priority impacts
2 Identify any outcomes or standards Council wants evaluated 3 Identify technical expertise or data Council expects staff to obtain Potential priorities: water, utilities, public safety, environmental and health effects, land use and design, fiscal and community effects
DATA CENTER STUDY
Why the City is studying data centers
The temporary moratorium gives the City time to evaluate impacts and adopt defensible local standards.
Water
Supply, groundwater constraints and drought resilience
Infrastructure
Electric, water, wastewater and stormwater capacity
Community impacts
Land use compatibility, noise, emissions and visual character Public safety
Fire protection, emergency response and hazardous materials CITY OF PATTERSON 02
DATA CENTER STUDY
Participation choices involve tradeoffs
More formal structures increase continuity and transparency, but also require more time and administration.
LIGHT Survey + one workshop
Fastest; broad access; input remains advisory and episodic MODERATE Workshops + Planning Commission study sessions Public dialogue at key milestones; uses existing bodies INTENSIVE Citizen advisory committee + workshops
Sustained participation; greatest appointment, meeting and staff burden CITY OF PATTERSON 07
Direction 2
What level of public participation does Council want?
A
Light
Online input and one staff-led
workshop
B
Moderate
Workshops plus Planning
Commission study sessions
C
Intensive
Formally appointed citizen advisory
committee plus workshops
Council may also select a hybrid or direct staff to return with a detailed engagement plan.
Requested action: provide direction to staff