Attachment A - Draft Resolution - GPA-2-25-Y_rev2.pdf

ATTACHMENT A 
THIS IS A DRAFT COPY ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFICIAL COPY OF THE FINAL, ADOPTED 
RESOLUTION 
RESOLUTION _____ 
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL 
PLAN TO INCORPORATE DESIGN AND LOCATION CRITERIA FOR 
DATA CENTERS, APPLICATION GPA-2-25-Y. 
____________ 
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHOENIX, as follows: 
SECTION 1. That the General Plan be amended to incorporate design and location criteria 
for data centers as follows: 
DATA CENTERS 
WITH CONTINUAL ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND THE 
DIGITAL “CLOUD”, THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING DEMAND TO CONSTRUCT DATA CENTERS IN ORDER TO 
SUPPORT THE DIGITAL WORLD. DATA CENTERS HOUSE A LARGE COLLECTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL 
EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO STORE, PROCESS, AND MANAGE VAST AMOUNTS OF DIGITAL INFORMATION. 
ALTHOUGH DATA CENTERS ARE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY THAT MANY 
COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS NOW RELY ON, THEY ALSO COME WITH POTENTIAL CHALLENGES, 
INCLUDING A LOSS OF LAND FOR JOBS AND HOUSING, NOISE POLLUTION, SIGNIFICANT ENERGY DEMAND, 
INACTIVE FRONTAGES ALONG PUBLIC STREETS, AND CONFLICTS WITH THE CITY’S APPROACH OF 
MAXIMIZING TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS WITH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES. MEASURES SHOULD BE 
TAKEN TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT ARE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND TO ADDRESS THE 
NOISE, ENERGY, AND DESIGN ISSUES THAT THEY COME WITH. 
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DRAFT

LOCATION CRITERIA POLICY 
 
1. LOCATE AWAY FROM IDENTIFIED CORES, CENTERS, AND CORRIDORS WHERE HIGHER-
INTENSITY DEVELOPMENT IS ENCOURAGED FOR MIXED-USE, WALKABLE COMMUNITIES. 
2. LOCATE IN IDENTIFIED REDEVELOPMENT AREAS WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE 
INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED. 
 
DESIGN POLICY 
 
1. PROVIDE ENHANCED LANDSCAPE SETBACKS WITH A GREATER DENSITY OF TREES AND 
SHRUBS.  
2. PROVIDE DETACHED SIDEWALKS WITH PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES AND SHADE. 
3. PROVIDE ART IN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. 
4. UTILIZE DARK SKY LIGHTING.  
5. MINIMIZE NOISE POLLUTION TO NEARBY RESIDENTIAL THROUGH USE OF LARGE 
SETBACKS, STRUCTURAL SCREENING ELEMENTS, ARCHITECTURALLY INTEGRATED 
STRUCTURES, AND/OR LANDSCAPING. 
6. PROVIDE VISUAL INTEREST TO ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY WITH 
ENHANCED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN THAT INCLUDES A VARIATION IN COLORS, 
MATERIALS, ARTICULATION, FENESTRATION, AND BREAKING OF MASSING, RATHER 
THAN A CONCRETE BOX THAT HAS A NEGATIVE VISUAL APPEARANCE TO THE 
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. 
 
ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY POLICY 
 
1. PROVIDE AN AGREEMENT FROM THE LOCAL UTILITY COMPANY TO ENSURE THAT THERE 
IS SUFFICIENT CAPACITY IN THE POWER GRID TO SUPPLY THE DATA CENTER WITH ITS 
REQUIRED ENERGY DEMAND. 
2. ENCOURAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF DATA CENTER BUILDINGS. 
 
PASSED by the Council of the City of Phoenix this 2nd day of  
July 2025.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
M A Y O R 
 
ATTEST: 
 
 
 
 
City Clerk 
 
 
APPROVED AS TO FORM: 
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3
 
 
 
 
Acting City Attorney 
 
 
REVIEWED BY: 
 
 
_______________________ City Manager 
PL:amt:____v1 (CM __) (Item _) 4/7/21 
 
 
DRAFT