BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Brownsville officials are moving to restrict future data centers to heavy industrial districts after a proposal to convert a former big-box store into a mid-sized facility was abandoned.
The zoning change would keep large computing facilities away from most commercial and residential areas. Brownsville has relatively few heavy industrial tracts within the city limits, although the Port of Brownsville contains extensive industrial property outside the city’s direct zoning jurisdiction.
Data centers can bring construction and technology investment, but they also raise questions about electricity demand, backup generators, water use, noise and compatibility with nearby homes and businesses. Cities across Texas have begun reviewing how their development codes address the rapidly growing industry.
Mayor John Cowen said artificial intelligence and the infrastructure behind it are not going away and that the city needs to understand how future projects could affect Brownsville.
The city’s review follows discussion of possible regulations and a temporary moratorium while staff members studied appropriate locations and development standards. Limiting data centers to heavy industrial zones would give the city a clearer process for evaluating proposals alongside other intensive uses.
The abandoned retail-conversion proposal would have placed computer equipment in a former Walmart building. Its withdrawal does not prevent a different developer from proposing a facility elsewhere under the city’s revised rules.
Any future project also would be subject to utility-capacity, building, fire and environmental requirements in addition to zoning approval.
