North Richland Hills Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting on Data Center Regulations - July 20, 2026

The North Richland Hills Planning and Zoning Commission met on Monday, July 20, 2026, for a work session at 6:30 PM and a regular meeting at 7:26 PM. The primary agenda item was a public hearing (Case TR26-04) on proposed amendments to Chapter 118 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding data center facilities. After extensive public testimony and deliberation, the commission voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend requiring a Special Use Permit (SUP) for all future data centers, changing the current by-right allowances in several zoning districts.

Work Session (6:30 PM)

The work session began with a presentation by Director of Planning Cori Reaume on the regular meeting agenda. The commission then entered Executive Session at 6:59 PM to seek legal advice from the City Attorney on the posted subject matter (TR26-04), concluding at 7:20 PM. No future agenda items were proposed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No speakers came forward during the general public comment period (A.2).
• Twelve residents spoke during the public hearing on TR26-04. All expressed support for the text amendment requiring Special Use Permits (SUPs) for data centers, while many urged the adoption of further stringent regulations:
  • Luke Carnevale (5610 Southern Hills Dr) supported the SUP as a first step and requested mandatory distance requirements, raising concerns about EMF radiation.
  • Mark Vaughn (5901 Pedernales Ridge), a 32-year veteran of the data center industry, supported the SUP and requested more use categories, a ban on cryptocurrency mining, height limits, closed-loop water systems, and third-party sound studies.
  • Amber Monaghan (7544 Field Stone Dr) requested regulations addressing infrasound and low-frequency noise, and a distinction between traditional, AI, and crypto data centers. She described a 50 megawatt data center as using energy equivalent to roughly 40,000 homes.
  • Lydia Mahserjian (5610 Valhalla Dr) cited the 12,000 square foot Woolliger Way data center, permitted by right with no public notice, as evidence of the gap the SUP would close.
  • Kristina Carnevale (5610 Southern Hills Dr) emphasized the need for objective measurable conditions for SUP approval, including noise limits and independent compliance testing. She referenced a proposed 330,000 square foot, 50 megawatt data center.
  • Deborah [Jogu/Krager] (57 Southern Hayes Dr) thanked the commission for taking the issue seriously and urged strong action to protect residents.
  • Christopher Skirvin (Foster Village North) supported the SUP and a minimum 300-foot residential buffer zone, arguing data centers place unyielding strain on the grid.
  • Lindsey Eagan (5601 Havana Dr) stated the SUP alone was insufficient without strong underlying standards, and asked the commission to do more to establish regulations now.
  • John Schleeter (6553 Northern Dancer Dr) argued property value impacts should be a primary concern for the commission.
  • Karran Martin (5614 Westchase Dr) asked the commission to distinguish AI data centers, argued 250-foot setbacks were insufficient, and stressed that resident health and nearby businesses should be prioritized over potential tax revenue.
  • Becky Hernandez (7708 Westcliff Dr) requested pre-development sound studies, a review of the sound ordinance to address gaps between industrial and residential limits, and a ban on cryptocurrency operations.
  • Aubrey Recchia (8721 Copper Canyon Rd) spoke against new data centers without specific restrictions, citing concerns about the power grid, resource depletion, and the societal impacts of AI technologies.

Discussion Items

• Staff Presentation: Director of Planning Cori Reaume presented the history of data center zoning, including definitions adopted in 2025 for Small Scale (up to 10,000 sq ft) and General (over 10,000 sq ft) data centers. She detailed current by-right permissions and public concerns (water usage, power usage, noise). She reviewed actions in other cities (Fort Worth P&Z denial of regulations, Hill County lawsuit reversal of a moratorium) and formally recommended requiring a Special Use Permit (SUP) for all data centers, framing it as an immediate step one.
• Commissioner Deliberation: Commissioners discussed the flexibility of the SUP process for site-specific evaluation. Commissioner Narayana raised questions about the definition of primarily used and proposed a tiered approach. Chair Carpenter framed the SUP as a tool for local control, allowing the city to manage a rapidly evolving industry without being locked into a premature set of criteria. The City Attorney confirmed that developing criteria could be applied during SUP review even while formal regulations are being drafted.

Key Outcomes

• Recommended Approval of TR26-04: The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the text amendment to the City Council. This amendment changes the permit requirement for all data centers from Permitted by Right to requiring a Special Use Permit (SUP) across all zoning districts.
• Next Steps: The City Council is scheduled to consider the item at its meeting on July 27, 2026.
• Commitment to Future Work: Staff committed to continuing development of detailed regulations for data centers, including potential noise standards, setback requirements, and a tiered classification system.