canI buil data center in residential district
Building a data center in any residential district—specifically Rural Residential (RR), Residential Single-Family (RS), Residential Low Density (RL), Residential Medium Density (RM), or Residential High Density (RH)—is strictly prohibited [CDC 18.30.010, p. 90].
Data centers fall under the use classification of "Administrative, information processing," which includes establishments providing computer-dependent and telecommunications-based activities [CDC 18.20.020, p. 29]. According to the Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements for Residential Districts (Table 18.30.020), "Administrative, Information Processing" is designated with a "–" symbol across all residential zones, indicating the use is not allowed [Table 18.30.020, p. 99].
Furthermore, the development code mandates that any use not explicitly listed or determined to fit the characteristics of a listed classification is not permitted in any zoning district [CDC 18.20.010, p. 14]. While the planning division has the authority to permit unlisted "similar and compatible" uses, such a determination requires the use to be consistent with the purposes of the applicable district [CDC 18.25.030(A)(3), p. 83]. The primary purpose of residential districts is to protect and enhance the character and quality of residential neighborhoods [CDC 18.10.020, p. 4]. Given that data centers typically involve industrial-scale infrastructure, significant power requirements, and noise-generating cooling systems, they would be fundamentally incompatible with these residential objectives.
For a project of this nature, you must look to districts where "Administrative, Information Processing" is a permitted or conditionally permitted use, such as:
- Office and Commercial Districts: Community Office (CO), Commercial Mixed-Use (CMX), Service Commercial (SC), and Regional Commercial (RC) [Table 18.40.020, p. 124].
- Business Park and Industrial Districts: Office Business Park (OBP), Industrial Business Park (IBP), and Heavy Industrial (HI) [Table 18.50.020, p. 153].
- Downtown Districts: North Todos Santos (NTS), Downtown Mixed-Use (DMX), and West Concord Mixed-Use (WMX) [Table 18.35.020, p. 110; Table 18.45.020, p. 139].
Sections Cited
- 18.10.020 Purpose (p. 4)
- 18.20.010 Purpose and applicability (p. 14)
- 18.20.020 Use classifications (p. 29)
- 18.25.030 Allowable land uses and permit requirements (p. 83)
- 18.30.010 Purpose (p. 90)
- Table 18.30.020 Residential Districts Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements (pp. 91, 99)
- Table 18.35.020 North Todos Santos District Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements (p. 110)
- Table 18.40.020 Office and Commercial Districts Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements (p. 124)
- Table 18.45.020 Downtown Districts Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements (p. 139)
- Table 18.50.020 Business Park and Industrial Districts Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements (p. 153)