City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024
From: Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works
Department: Public Works
Submitted by: Sergio Canales, Assistant Planner
Subject
Amendments to Vernon Municipal Code Sections 17.56.060 and 17.57.020 pertaining to Automobile Parking and Truck Loading
Recommendation
A. Find that proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is general policy and procedure-making activity that is unrelated to any specific project, which must undergo separate CEQA review, and that will not result in direct physical changes or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378; B. Introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1300 amending Tables 17.56.060(B) and
17.56.060(C) in Section 17.56.060 and Table 17.57.020(B) in Section 17.57.020 of the Vernon Municipal Code regarding standards and requirements for automobile parking and truck loading for Data Centers; and
C. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 1300 at the next scheduled City Council meeting.
Background
The development standards for the Industrial Zone in Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Sections
17.56.060 and 17.57.020 require that new development and buildings comply with minimum automobile parking, and truck loading. This requirement was established to provide adequate offstreet parking and loading areas to accommodate people normally transacting business at the building.
The last comprehensive update of the City's zoning code occurred in 2008. Design standards for data centers were included in that update and while these standards have not been modified, the design of data centers has undergone a dramatic transformation. The data centers imagined by the zoning code were warehouse buildings that contained computers.
The existing zoning code requirements have not been updated to reflect the current size and modernization of data centers. Modern data centers have very limited need for automobile parking as the structure’s purpose is to house server and networking infrastructure. On-site staff requirements at these properties are very low. In addition, modern data centers have low loading and unloading requirements, necessitating less truck traffic, and maneuvering.
Modern data centers do not contribute to traffic, create odors, dust, or noise. Modern data centers are large and steady users of electricity and provide sales tax revenues when computer equipment is installed and periodically replaced.
Staff recommends that the minimum automobile parking and truck loading requirements for data centers be amended. The proposed changes to Tables 17.56.060(B) and 17.56.060(C), and Table 17.57.020(B) are shown below in red:
Table 17.56.060(B)
Minimum Number of Required Automobile Parking Spaces
Use Type Required Spaces
Data Center 1 space per 1,250 sq. ft. of gross floor area. 1 space per 7,500 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger.
Table 17.56.060(C)
Minimum Number of Required Truck Loading Spaces
Use Type Required Spaces
Data Center 1 space per 50,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area. 1 space per data center.
Table 17.57.020(B)
Use Type Required Spaces
Data Center 1.0/KSF1.0/7.5 KSF
With the proposed amendments, the City anticipates that it will have the flexibility to accommodate a broader range of development and expansion projects which, ultimately, will positively contribute to the fiscal health and vitality of the City.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Ordinance No. 1300
2. Notice of Public Hearing