Peoria’s current regulations on data centers date to 2002, when floppy disc drives, cell phones without cameras and dial-up internet were in full rotation, a time when they were more associated with servers in back office rooms rather than sprawling tech farms.
A lot has changed since then, so the city is updating its zoning code to add additional regulation on data centers as a land use. Peoria is following the lead of Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and other municipalities that have updated or are considering updating their regulations.
Planning Director Chris Jacques said each municipality has a different approach based on their own circumstances, but generally most have focused on regulating noise from equipment and generators, water and power needs, building size, proximity to homes, as well as traffic and emergency access.
