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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Planning and Zoning Commission - 08/11/2026 - RegularMINUTES CITY OF THE COLONY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 After determining that a quorum was present, the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of The Colony, Texas convened into Regular Session which was held on Tuesday, August 11 `h at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at City Hall, 6053 Main Street, The Colony, Texas, at which time the following items were addressed: Board Members Present: Karen Hames, Jeff Baran, Kirk Varga, Brenda Armour, Kenneth Flo and DeWayne Snider Board Members Absent: Richard Senechal Staff Present: Isaac Williams, Planning Director; Melissa Devin, Planning Technician; Naim Kahn, Senior Engineer and Alan Lathrom, Attorney 1.0 1 CALL REGULAR SESSION TO ORDER Chair Hames called the regular session of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2.0 1 CITIZENINPUT 3.0 CONSENT AGENDA 3.1 Consider the app roval of the minutes of the July 28, 2026 Regular Session. Chair Hames read Consent Agenda Items 3.1 into record. Commissioner Armour made a motion to approve items 3.1, seconded by Commissioner Snider. The motion carried (6-0). 4.0 PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 4.1 SI26-0003 - Data Center Regulations Conduct a public hearing, discuss and consider a recommendation to City Council regarding amendments to Appendix A, by amending Section 10-200 entitled "Schedule of Uses by District"; Section 10-300, entitled "definitions and explanations applicable to use schedule" by adding a new definition entitled "Data Center"; and adding a new section 10-500, entitled "Data Center Regulations". Chair Hames read Public Hearing Item 4.1 into record. Mr. Williams presented the staff report. Commissioner Snider asked if there was a need for a buffer if the data center was not residential. Mr. Williams responded that the buffer was intended for the data center's separation to the residential area. Commissioner Snider asked if there was also the need for a buffer between the data center and commercial zoning districts. 1 Mr. Williams responded by saying that in theory, you could have one but that usually, those specifications are established at the time of the Planned Development request and it would depend on where the data center was placed in relation to other zoning districts; all which would be evaluated at the time of review. Commissioner Snider asked if there was anything the city needed to do in terms of security. Mr. Williams stated that within the creation of the Planned Development, one of the requirements would be to address the security. He further added that, like any project, it would be evaluated thoroughly by our development review committee, which includes the police department and should they have any concerns, they would have an opportunity to be addressed at that time. Commissioner Varga asked a question regarding the hours of operation being lam — l Opm. Mr. Williams responded that the hours listed were consistent with existing language within the ordinance. Commissioner Varga stated that he was concerned with the time of operations as well as the decibel levels proposed. He added that it would be hard for a family raising children to put their kids to bed with that level of noise if carried by the wind. Mr. Williams asked Commissioner Varga if he was proposing a recommendation on the decibels or the hours of operation. Commissioner Varga responded "both." Mr. Williams asked Commissioner Varga for specifics on the numbers. Commissioner Varga replied by stating that he believed that 55 decibels would be appropriate with an end time of 8pm. Commissioner Baran added that those types of details would be specified with the creation of the Planned Development and would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. He further added that just because an applicant met that requirement did not mean they would be approved. Alan Lathrom, Attorney, added that it was much easier to be less restrictive than to be more restrictive. He further added that all of the aforementioned recommendations could be included in the recommendation to City Council and would have the ability to be modified when the Planned Development was being established. Commissioner Flo asked for clarification on whether or not there was a recommendation in place. Commissioner Varga replied by stating that he did have a recommendation. Commissioner Baran asked for more clarification on the implementation of the decommissioning plan stated withing the proposed ordinance. Mr. Williams responded that this was the first step to actually having something implemented. He reiterated that once the Planned Development request came in, the decommissioning plan would have to be outlined within the Planned Development standards. He further added that at this step, it would not be appropriate to outline such details since it is a zoning regulation. 2 Mr. Lathrom added further clarification and offered more insight on possible options within the decommissioning plan. Commissioner Flo asked how many pieces of vacant property, larger than 25 acres, currently exist within the city. Mr. Williams responded with `a handful'. Commissioner Flo asked Mr. Williams if there was anything written within the proposed ordinance that spoke to the City being able to negotiate and create a situation where the data centers was profitable for the City. Mr. Williams responded that there were some legalities as to how we can approach those topics but added that it was not precluded within the ordinance. He further stated that when it reached Council, they would have more of an ability to outline those details. Commissioner Snider asked if there was a plan when it came to a power outage and whether we could control it. Mr. Williams responded that as part of the process of the Planned Development request, we would require studies and a review of both power and water conservation so there would be a plan in place in cases of emergency. Mr. Lathrom added that there is currently a study being conducted by the PUCT on the impact that data centers have to the electrical grid and to the water supply. He further added that you could build -in requirements within the Planned Development that specify ways in which both electricity and water may be used to protect the community. Chair Hames opened the public hearing at 7:05pm Chair Hames closed the public hearing at 7:05pm Commissioner Varga made a motion to approve item 4.1 with the conditions stated below, seconded by Commissioner Snider. 1. Reduce daytime hours from lam — IOpm to lam — 8pm 2. Reduce the decibels to 55 at all times. The motion carried (6-0). There being no further business to come before the Commission, Chair Hames adjourned the Regular Session of the Planning and Zoning Commission at 7:06pm. arYHaes, Chairman %•-- , ia. Willi 3