The City of Grand Prairie Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 27 approved a zoning change and concept plan to add a data-center use to a planned development district for a 16.8-acre site at the southwest corner of Rock Island and Hard Rock Road.

Staff (Savannah) summarized the proposal as a two-story, roughly 401,000-square-foot data center that would include parking, generators, a guard shack and a potential future substation. The plan development standards submitted with the zoning change would define a data center as a facility that houses collections of servers and associated components for remote storage, processing and distribution of data to off-site end users. Staff recommended approval with several conditions: prohibit cryptocurrency mining in the PD; enclose and screen the generator yard with a 25-foot concrete wall (as depicted on the concept plan); require any office-warehouse development to follow Appendix X of the UDC; limit the PD’s exhibit E standards to data centers; construct a minimum 8-foot masonry screening wall and a 35-foot landscape buffer with a double row of trees and shrubs along the southern property line adjacent to residential uses; and use Appendix X for base landscape calculations.

Scott Ellerman, representing the applicant, said the site’s proximity to an existing Encore switching station next door was the primary reason for developer interest and that the project team has been negotiating to tie into Encore’s facility rather than build a new on-site substation. “It is our preference . . . to tie directly into the existing substation next door,” Ellerman said; he added that Encore has been noncommittal to the arrangement and the team is proceeding under the assumption a substation could be built on-site if necessary.

Commissioners asked about noise, visual screening and generator operation. Savannah said the applicant submitted a noise study reviewed by the city’s Public Health and Environmental Quality Department and found to be within accepted ranges. Ellerman and staff said the on-site backup generators are for emergency power and would not run continuously; the transcript records the applicant stating the project would be about 72 megawatts in total capacity, with a 48-megawatt data hall and the remaining 24 megawatts used for the facility itself.

Concerns were raised about the proximity of a potential substation and tall electrical equipment to mobile-home residences immediately south of the site. Commissioner John Federco, whose district includes the property, said the zoning already allowed a substation and stressed that residents could face a tall facility if Encore does not allow a tie-in. Ellerman said some or all substation land might be conveyed to Encore for ownership and operation.

Commissioner John Federco moved to close the public discussion and approve the zoning change with staff recommendations; Commissioner Ty Chapman seconded. The motion was recorded as passing. The transcript later includes a recorded tally of “7 to 1” when the roll call was read back; individual votes were not named in the transcript.

With conditions set by staff, the applicant may pursue permits and further design work; the commission’s action allows the applicant to pursue either a data-center end user or the previously approved office-warehouse use if council approves the PD change.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve zoning change and plan development standards for Constellation Rock Island data center — motion by Commissioner John Federco; second by Commissioner Ty Chapman; outcome: approved (motion recorded as passing; later notation in the record reads “7 to 1” but individual votes not specified).