Environmental Quality Commission Meeting Date: July 16, 2025
To: Members of the Environmental Quality Commission
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Informational presentation on performance standards for data centers in the Land Development Code.
Body
Action Requested:
The Environmental Quality Commission receive a presentation on the approach to data centers in the land development code, specifically related to the Climate Action Plan.
Summary Report:
Data centers are a growth industry in the United States. However, they can use considerable amounts of water, energy, and generate tremendous amounts of e-waste.
Earlier in the 2020s staff was approached by a potential site selector for data centers, interested in the NW area of the city. While working through a potential project, staff identified pros and cons of addressing a data center users within the City’s municipal limits.
After completion of a robust environmental scenario planning tool, an Alternative Urban Areawide review, staff began researching data centers, focused on the environmental impact. This was to set up a land development code language to address Northfield’s climate action plan and related climate change mitigation goals.
Staff will provide a presentation about the approach and about the future of data centers in Northfield.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines: