Coachella Planning Commission Weighs in on Permanent Data Center Ban Tonight

Coachella's Planning Commission meets tonight at 6 PM to decide whether to recommend a permanent, citywide ban on data centers, a move that would bring the city closer to shutting the door on the industry for good.

The vote tonight isn't final. Commissioners are only deciding whether to tell the City Council to approve the ban, though it's a key step before Council can take it up. If commissioners sign off, the proposal moves to a first reading in front of the City Council in August.

The issue has drawn large crowds before, and commissioners are expected to hear from the public again tonight before they vote.

Tonight's meeting builds on action Council already took. Just last week, Council extended a temporary freeze on new data center development another 10 months and 15 days, through June 2027, buying staff time to finish writing the permanent rules now in front of the commission.

City staff say data centers use too much power and water, concerns that carry extra weight in the Coachella Valley, where the city is already dealing with drought conditions and limits on both the State Water Project and the Colorado River. Staff also point to noise, air quality, and emergency response as reasons the use doesn't fit well near neighborhoods, since data centers often rely on backup generators, fuel storage, and battery systems that bring their own fire and safety concerns.

There's also a jobs argument behind the recommendation. The city says data centers create fewer permanent jobs than other industrial or commercial uses while still eating up large amounts of land and utility capacity that could go toward development that hires more people.

Staff are recommending the commission back the ban outright, though commissioners do have other options on the table tonight, including recommending against the ban, taking no position at all, or continuing the item for more discussion.

If the commission recommends approval tonight, the ban still needs two votes from the City Council before it becomes permanent.