Edinburg Rewrites Its Development Rules and Puts a Fence Around Data Centers
Edinburg's council approved more than 60 changes to its development code, including a special permit for data centers and smaller minimum lot sizes.
Edinburg has spent the better part of a year going line by line through the rules that decide what can be built in the city. On Monday, Oct. 6, the city council approved the result. It is more than 60 amendments to the Unified Development Code, and one of them puts limits on data centers.
Data centers need a special permit
According to the Monitor, the vote was unanimous. Under the new rules, a data center wanting to build in Edinburg must get a special use permit. Data centers are banned in 11 zoning districts and allowed only in light industrial and general industrial districts. The code defines a data center as "a dedicated building or secure room that houses large networks of computer servers used to store, process, and manage digital data."
At least one resident wanted more than that. The Edinburg Advocate reported that Jacqueline Bias urged transparency about any future data center deals. She pointed to a $4 billion FluidStack data center reported to be breaking ground in the Harlingen-Rio Hondo area of Cameron County. "I do support any growth and development, but this kind of deals, people need to be aware in the future and we want to make sure that it's beneficial to the community," she said.
Smaller lots, tower rules
The changes also allow smaller home lots. Staff proposed cutting the minimum lot area from 4,000 to 3,500 square feet, and the width from 40 to 36 feet, the Monitor reported. Duplex minimums fell further, from 8,000 square feet and 80 feet wide to 4,000 square feet and 40 feet wide. The rules on telecommunication towers were loosened, but towers now need 500 feet of separation from homes.
One proposal did not survive. Staff had wanted new single-family homes built so they could easily add electric vehicle charging later. The Planning and Zoning board recommended against that outlet requirement, and it was left out.
Mayor Omar Ochoa thanked the planning department for "combing through all of the provisions" of the code "to standardize, to modernize, to compare to other cities." A steering committee of developers, engineers, professionals and residents helped write the changes, and a joint public hearing came before the vote.
A call to build roads first
Resident Diane Teeter asked the council to require infrastructure first: streets, paving, water, sewer and drainage before any development is approved. "This will ensure that Edinburg will lead growth proactively," she said, "a city that shapes its future rather than reacts to it one variance at a time." That is sound advice for any fast-growing town. Smaller lots mean more rooftops, and more rooftops need more pipe and pavement.
Other business
The Advocate reported that the council also:
Awarded the lease and operation of the city's drag strip at South Texas International Airport to CPR Motorsports Entertainment LLC
Approved a new police pay plan. A speaker said it sets starting pay at $42,666, with lieutenants earning up to $93,000
Tabled a request to use a home sprinkler system instead of extending a fire hydrant. The fire chief recommended denial
Approved a fully funded planning grant to score the condition of city streets
Moved its Nov. 3 meeting to Nov. 4
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