Venice pauses large data center permits for a year

Venice City Council members voted to stop accepting applications for large-scale data centers on Oct. 27. The new ordinance creates a 12-month pause on several types of development permits and plan changes for these facilities.

The council defined a large-scale data center as a single location with an anticipated monthly peak electrical load of 50 megawatts or more. During the moratorium, the city will not process applications for construction, expansion, or operation of such sites. This includes rezoning requests, conditional uses, site plans, and building permits.

City staff will use the next year to examine how these facilities affect local infrastructure. They plan to review impacts on water supply, wastewater treatment, and electrical capacity. The review will also look at land-use compatibility and environmental concerns. Staff will consider potential effects on wetlands, coastal ecosystems, noise, and lighting.

A city business impact estimate noted that no large-load-customer businesses currently operate in Venice. The document also stated that no such businesses have indicated plans to enter the city.

The moratorium will last for 12 months unless the city adopts related changes to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations sooner. The council may extend the pause through another ordinance after holding public hearings.