Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones Pushes Tougher Data Center Rules — 1,000-Foot Buffers, a Council Vote on Every Project, Two Public Meetings — Ahead of Thursday's Council Decision

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is pushing for stricter regulations on data centers as the City Council prepares for its vote Thursday, Oct. 29, on amendments to the Unified Development Code. In her weekly interview with News 4 San Antonio, Jones said she recently visited a data center near a residential area and was troubled by how close its diesel generators were to a neighborhood playground and swimming pool. "We were all of 650 feet from a playground, and similarly a swimming pool," Jones said.

Jones said her approach centers on three priorities: transparency, protecting public health and preserving property values. While acknowledging the growing demand for computing power, particularly in a city with a significant military and cybersecurity presence, she said that growth should not come at the expense of nearby residents. "We need this computing power," Jones said, adding that the city also needs to protect quality of life for its residents.

Among the proposals Jones wants the council to consider are requiring council approval for data center permits, notifying residents 45 days before developers submit applications, and holding at least two public meetings in affected neighborhoods. She also supports requiring data centers to sit at least 1,000 feet from residential areas, addressing noise concerns, requiring developers to replace twice the amount of green space removed during construction, and enclosing backup diesel generators with proper ventilation to reduce noise and air pollution. The mayor's framework goes further than the compromise the Zoning Commission backed on Oct. 20, which centered on 350-foot buffers; the council takes up the amendments Thursday.