HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260140 MEMORANDUM
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Jim Flesher, Long-Range Planner
... EI 4 Date: February 9, 2026
COUNTY, CO Re: Ordinance 2026-01 , Chapter 23, Zoning, Second
Reading (Data Centers)
The Weld County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of this ordinance at its
regular meeting on February 3, 2026. No changes are proposed for second reading. Staff
recommends adoption of the ordinance as presented. Final reading is scheduled for February
23, 2026.
Page 1
Before the Weld County, Colorado, Planning Commission
Resolution of Recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners
Moved by Michael Palizzi, that the following resolution be introduced for passage by the Weld
County Planning Commission. Be it resolved by the Weld County Planning Commission that the
application for:
Case Number: Ordinance 2026-01
Request: In the Matter of Repealing and Reenacting with Amendments, Chapter 23 Zoning,
(Data Centers)
Planner Jim Flesher
be recommended favorably to the Board of County Commissioners for the following reasons:
1. Section 23-2-120.B.1 —That the existing text is in need of revision, as proposed.
2. Section 23-2-120.B.2—That the proposed amendment will be consistent with the future goals and needs
of the County as set out in Chapter 22 and any other applicable code provision or ordinance in effect.
3. Section 23-2-120.B.3—That the proposed amendment will be consistent with the overall intent of this
Chapter.
Motion seconded by Cole Ritchey.
VOTE:
For Passage Against Passage Absent
Butch White
Michael Wailes
Michael Palizzi
Virginia Guderjahn
Barney Hammond
Michael Biwer
Calven Goza
Hunter Rivera
Cole Ritchey
The Chair declared the resolution passed and ordered that a certified copy be forwarded with the
file of this case to the Board of County Commissioners for further proceedings.
Certification of Copy
I, Kristine Ranslem, Recording Secretary for the Weld County Planning Commission, do hereby
certify that the above and foregoing resolution is a true copy of the resolution of the Planning
Commission of Weld County, Colorado, adopted on February 3, 2026.
Dated the 3'd of February, 2026
Y1,2I :111_
Kristine Ranslem
Secretary
Chapter 23
Zoning
ARTICLE I - General Provisions
Amend Sec. 23-1-90. — Definitions, as follows:
[Change all italicized terms throughout this section to non-italics.]
The following specific words and phrases, when appearing in this Chapter in
uppercase letters, shall have the meanings stated in this Section:
DATA CENTER: A BUILDING or BUILDINGS used to house information technology
or telecommunications equipment with which digital information is processed, transferred,
and/or stored. A DATA CENTER may include associated ancillary STRUCTURES,
including, but not limited to, OFFICES, security BUILDINGS, cooling water tanks, and
backup power systems with a total capacity of less than fifty (50) megawatts.
All other definitions remain unchanged.
ARTICLE III -Zone Districts
Amend Sec. 23-3-40. - Uses by special review outside of subdivisions and historic
townsites.
The following BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES and USES may be constructed, occupied,
operated and maintained on LOTS outside of SUBDIVISIONS and HISTORIC
TOWNSITES in the A (Agricultural) Zone District upon approval of a Special Review
Permit in accordance with the requirements and procedures set forth in Article II,
Division 4 of this Chapter, or Article II, Division 5, in the case of MAJOR FACILITIES OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES OR PUBLIC AGENCIES.
A. through J., no change. Insert new K.
K. DATA CENTERS.
Reletter as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Division 4 - Industrial Zone Districts
Amend Sec. 23-3-310. - I-1 (Light Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the
I-1 Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with
Article II, Division 3, of this Chapter. Any USE conducted outside of an ENCLOSED
BUILDING shall be SCREENED from adjacent PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY and
ADJACENT LOTS in any Zone District other than 1-3.
1. through 7., no change. Insert new 8.
8. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Amend Sec. 23-3-320. - 1-2 (Medium Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the
1-2 Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with
Article II, Division 3, of this Chapter. Any USE conducted outside of an ENCLOSED
BUILDING shall be SCREENED from adjacent PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY and
ADJACENT LOTS in any Zone District other than 1-3.
1. through 8., no change. Insert new 9.
9. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Amend Sec. 23-3-330. - 1-3 (Heavy Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the
1-3 Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with
Article II, Division 3, of this Chapter.
1. through 11., no change. Insert new 12.
12.DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes.
Summary of the Weld County Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
A regular meeting of the Weld County Planning Commission was held in the Weld County Administration
Building, Hearing Room, 1150 0 Street, Greeley, Colorado. This meeting was called to order by Chair
Butch White, at 1:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Barney Hammond, Butch White, Calven Goza, Cole Ritchey, Hunter Rivera, Michael Biwer,
Michael Palizzi, Michael Wailes.
Absent: Virginia Guderjahn.
Also Present: Angela Snyder and Jim Flesher, Department of Planning Services, Mike McRoberts,
Development Review, Karin McDougal, County Attorney, and Kris Ranslem, Secretary.
Case Number: Ordinance 2026-01
Planner: Jim Flesher
Request: In the Matter of Repealing and Reenacting with Amendments, Chapter 23 Zoning
of the Weld County Code (Data Centers)
Jim Flesher, Planning Services, presented Ordinance 2026-01, provided a brief presentation on the
proposed changes to Chapter 23, specifically related to Data Centers. He added that the first reading of
this ordinance was presented to the Board of County Commissioners on January 26th. The Department of
Planning Services recommends approval of this Ordinance.
The Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application.
No one wished to speak.
Motion: Forward Ordinance 2026-01 to the Board of County Commissioners along with the Planning
Commission's recommendation of approval, Moved by Michael Palizzi, Seconded by Cole Ritchey.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 8).
Yes: Butch White, Barney Hammond, Calven Goza, Cole Ritchey, Hunter Rivera, Michael Biwer, Michael
Palizzi, Michael Wailes.
Meeting adjourned at 1:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristine Ranslem
Secretary
1
MEMORANDUM
'sry 8661 To: Weld County Planning Commission
EtaFrom: Jim Flesher, Long-Range Planner
Date: February 3, 2026
COUNTY,CO Re: Ordinance 2026-01, Data Centers
The Board of County Commissioners held a worksession with staff on this topic on January 7, 2026.
This ordinance will define "Data Centers" in Section 23-1-90 of the Chapter 23 of the Weld County
Code and list them as a use by special review (USR) in Agricultural zones outside of subdivisions
and townsites and as a site plan review (SPR) in all Industrial zone districts.
In order to expedite this ordinance, first reading of this ordinance took place on January 26, 2026.
Second reading will be February 9 and final reading is scheduled for February 23, 2026.
Staff recommends adoption of the ordinance.
Page 1
MEMORANDUM
�86 °w To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Maxwell Nader, Planning Manager
'� Jim Flesher, Long-Range Planner
COUNTY, CO Date: January 26, 2026
Re: Ordinance 2026-01, Chapter 23, Zoning, First
Reading (Data Centers)
The Board of County Commissioners held a work session with staff on this topic on January 7, 2026.
This ordinance would define "Data Centers" in Section 23-1-90 of the Chapter 23, Zoning, of the
Weld County Code and list them as a use by special review (USR) in Agricultural zones outside of
subdivisions and townsites, and as a site plan review (SPR) in all Industrial zone districts.
In order to expedite this ordinance, staff will present this ordinance to the Weld County Planning
Commission for its review and recommendation on February 3, 2026. Scheduling first reading of
this ordinance prior to the Planning Commission hearing moves the effective date up by several
weeks to March 4, 2026.
Staff recommends adoption of the ordinance.
2026-0140
CHAPTER 23 - Zoning
ARTICLE I - General Provisions
Sec. 23-1-90. - Definitions.
[CHANGE ALL ITALICIZED TERMS THROUGHOUT THIS SECTION TO NON-ITALICS.]
DATA CENTER: A BUILDING or BUILDINGS used to house information technology or
telecommunications equipment with which digital information is processed, transferred, and/or
stored. A DATA CENTER may include associated ancillary STRUCTURES, including but not
limited to, OFFICES, security BUILDINGS, cooling water tanks, and backup power systems with
a total capacity of less than fifty (50) megawatts.
All other definitions remain unchanged.
ARTICLE III -Zone Districts
Sec. 23-3-40. - Uses by special review outside of subdivisions and historic townsites.
The following BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES and USES may be constructed, occupied,
operated and maintained on LOTS outside of SUBDIVISIONS and HISTORIC TOWNSITES in
the A (Agricultural) Zone District upon approval of a Special Review Permit in accordance with
the requirements and procedures set forth in Article II, Division 4 of this Chapter, or Article II,
Division 5, in the case of MAJOR FACILITIES OF PUBLIC UTILITIES OR PUBLIC AGENCIES.
A. through J., no change. Insert after "CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, subject to Article XV,
Section 15-5, of the Weld County Charter.":
K. DATA CENTERS.
Reletter as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Division 4 - Industrial Zone Districts
Sec. 23-3-310. - 1-1 (Light Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the I-1
Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with Article II,
Division 3, of this Chapter. Any USE conducted outside of an ENCLOSED BUILDING shall
be SCREENED from adjacent PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY and ADJACENT LOTS in any
Zone District other than 1-3.
1. through 7., no change. Insert new 8.
8. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Sec. 23-3-320. - 1-2 (Medium Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the 1-2
Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with Article II,
Division 3, of this Chapter. Any USE conducted outside of an ENCLOSED BUILDING shall
be SCREENED from adjacent PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY and ADJACENT LOTS in any
Zone District other than 1-3.
1. through 8., no change. Insert new 9.
9. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Sec. 23-3-330. - 1-3 (Heavy Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the 1-3
Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with Article II,
Division 3, of this Chapter.
1. through 11., no change. Insert new 12.
12. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes.
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