Council approves comp‑plan amendment and rezoning to allow light‑industrial/data‑center development

The Temple City Council approved on first reading a change to the 2020 comprehensive plan and a companion rezoning to allow light‑industrial development, including a proposed data center, on properties east and west of Loop 363.

City planning staff advised the council that the comprehensive‑plan amendment would reclassify about 142.25 acres from residential and neighborhood services to industrial to match surrounding uses along Loop 363 and the BNSF railroad. "Industrial does call for various zoning districts, such as commercial, light industrial, heavy industrial, and planned developments," staff said, adding that no public-notification requirement applies for comp‑plan amendments but that notice was posted in the Temple Daily Telegram and the Development Review Committee reviewed the request.

For the rezoning and binding site‑development plan, staff described the request as just over 260 acres with two proposed entrances off Loop 363, a roughly 100‑foot minimum setback from surrounding properties to protect adjacent residents, graded berms and landscaping, photometric plans to avoid light trespass, and post‑construction acoustical reports. Staff said that if post‑construction testing shows exceedances the developer must implement additional mitigation before certificates of occupancy are issued.

A resident expressed concern that noise and water use from data centers can create persistent neighborhood problems and asked, "Who decides what's reasonable?" Staff responded that the agreement includes specific decibel levels and that the city will meter noise after construction and require remediation if the site fails to meet engineered specifications.

Miss Strickland noted Planning & Zoning recommended approval 8–0. The council closed the public hearing and approved the first reading by a 5–0 vote.

Next steps: the item will return for a second reading and public hearing on Feb. 5, at which the council may take final action or adopt any ordinance language changes.