Seguin, Texas Development News

City Council Approves New Conditional Use Permit Process and Data Center Definition, Rezones North Austin Street Property

The City Council considered and approved amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to establish a new zoning permit: the Conditional Use Permit (CUP). This new permit type is intended for land uses with a higher potential for significant impacts on surrounding areas and the community. The CUP process will require City Council approval, involve two public hearings (one with the Planning and Zoning Commission and one with the City Council), and will allow for site-specific conditions to mitigate impacts. The application fee for a CUP is proposed to be $800, double that of a Specific Use Permit. The primary driver for this amendment was the need to establish a process for reviewing potential data center developments. The UDC amendments also include a definition for data centers, proposing they be classified as an industrial use allowed in Light Industrial and Industrial zoning districts with a CUP, with a proposed minimum facility size of 2,000 square feet, although the definition and specific conditions can be further amended. The council voted 4-3 to approve the ordinance establishing the CUP, with Councilmember Biesenbach, Councilmember Keller, Councilmember Levin, and Councilmember Rea voting no and Councilmember Eveld, Councilmember Gautan, and Mayor Pro Tem Napier voting yes. The council subsequently voted 4-3 to add data centers as a new use with a definition, again with Councilmember Biesenbach, Councilmember Keller, Councilmember Levin, and Councilmember Rea voting no and Councilmember Eveld, Councilmember Gautan, and Mayor Pro Tem Napier voting yes, with the Mayor breaking the tie in favor of approval to establish a process. Additionally, the council approved a zoning change for a 0.9-acre property at 3033 North Austin Street from Suburban Residential (S-R) to Commercial (C) to allow for conversion from residential to commercial use, supporting the commercial corridor future land use plan. This change was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the council with a 6-1 vote, Councilmember Keller dissenting.