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The Reno Planning Commission asks the Council to pause Permissions for the Data Center, mayor replies – Reno Gazette Journal

The Reno Planning Commission asks the Council to pause Permissions for the Data Center, mayor replies – Reno Gazette Journal

The Renault Planning Commission voted 4-2 on Wednesday to recommend the city set a temporary pause for submitting and issuing permits for data centers.

The resolution was proposed by Commissioner Mani Besera so that the city could take the time to look at their economic and environmental impact more deeply. Every commissioner said he asks the employees and the council to look at this, but nothing was done. Last month, the Council approved the first data center in the northern valleys, near the North Virginia Street and the Steild Boulevard.

Data centers are stored servers to maintain the technology, but use a lot of electricity and require systems for cooling, ventilation and fire suppression.

Planning Commissioner Christina del Villar has said he is not against the data centers, but believes that the issue should be understood, especially since there are different types of data centers.

“I have the feeling that there is no policy and guidance to help me decide when they come to us individually (if) they make sense,” said Del Villar. “We are not the first city to go through it. … I think it’s just a pause so we can come up with some guidance. “

Mayor Hillary Sheve told RGJ that the council and the city would look at him closer when the resolution hits their desks. She said that an impact, provisions and policies on data centers were needed and is part of the process.

“We must definitely immerse ourselves and see where it makes sense or where it makes no sense. This is complicated, ”Sheve said.

She said that each data center is different and may have different energy sources that must all be considered one by one.

Planning Commissioner Alex Velto voted against this resolution to request a pause, as they believe they have no authority to recommend that and the committee should remain impartial.

“I’m really amazed at this,” Velto said. “If the Commission is an official position against the data centers, it will question objectivity for all future land use decisions on data centers.”

The berry claims that they are a consulting committee and this is just what they advise the council to do. But Velto said this decision could put them in a court slurry, as this could make the body look against the data centers.

City prosecutor Carl Hall told the planning committee that anything that is said in the minutes can be used in any future court cases, independently, but if the Commission wants to recommend it to the Council, they can.

“I am with you on the purpose, I do not agree with the process,” Velto said. “We have to be really cautious (for) what we do because it will be used against us.”

Jaedyn Young covers the local government for Reno Gazette-Journal. Its salaries are 100% funded by donations and grants; If you want to see more stories like this, please consider donating in Rgj.com/donateS Send your ideas and feedback to Jaedyn to [email protected]S

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