Provo City Council votes against East Bay data center

The Provo City Council voted unanimously against a zoning reclassification during their regular meeting on March 10 that permitted Timpanogos Tech Center to develop a data center in East Bay.

Timpanogos Tech Center presented its proposal for an amendment changing the zone classification for its property on 1507 S. 1100 E. from planned industrial commercial to a planned industrial data center overlay zone. This zoning reclassification would allow them to develop a five megawatt data center with the potential to grow into a 50 megawatt center.

The city gave time for citizens of Provo to express their concerns on the prospective new center, all voicing their worries for both the environmental and the economic impact it would have in the area.

Many citizens urged the council to delay considering the center until after the city-wide development economic plan is complete.

"I'm not anti-technology," Angie Carter, 3rd district neighborhood chair, said. Decisions about energy use, land use and city priorities require more time and analysis so we can move forward proactively.

Other locals with experience living near data centers spoke up against allowing the zoning change.

"I actually grew up in Virginia, and as a former resident of the state with 15% of the data centers in the U.S," Seth Draper said. "I just want to really implore you all not to do it.

Draper explained that it led to his hometown in Virginia to see a lower quality of life and increase in utility bills.

In response to concerned citizens, representing Timpanogos Tech Center, Stephen Styler explained it is not their intent to disrupt the way of living in Provo and that they have spent the past year addressing these concerns that are often associated with data center projects.

Weve been working with Provo City for about a year to look through how we might build out this project," Styler said. If we come in and we disrupt air quality, we disrupt water conservation efforts, we disrupt power, we havent done our job because thats not what this is about.

After hearing from citizens on the developer, the city council weighed their decision to be in favor of caution and to wait for their economic development study to end. It will be finalized in late spring.

"We're in the middle of trying to create this economic development study and trying to come up with a vision for the area of East Bay," Rachel Whipple, councilwoman for Provo, said. "Let's be cautious here and make sure we're not approving something that we regret."

Timpanogos Tech Center had no comment on the decision of the city council.

Mayor Marsha Judkins expressed her approval of the city council's decision.

"The developer gave it their best shot," Judkins said. "I think we just need to move cautiously and ask what will be best for Provo."

The vote came up 7 to 0, with each member of the city council voting against the zoning change.