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Consider public testimony regarding, and an ordinance rezoning 32.48 acres located north of Louis Henna Boulevard and east of Greenlawn Boulevard from the C-1 (General Commercial) zoning district to the PUD (Planned Unit Development) No. 152 zoning district. (First Reading)*
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HISTORY: The property has been zoned C-1 (General Commercial) since the early 1990’s when Dell was established.
DATE OF REVIEW: October 26, 2023
LOCATION: North of Louis Henna and east of Greenlawn Blvd.
STAFF REVIEW AND ANALYSIS:
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning: The 2030 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designates the property for commercial use. Data center is not a use that is defined in the City’s Code and there are recent precedents for permitting such use, and the accessory uses that support a data center such as electric substation and communication tower, with a PUD in commercial zoning districts. Although currently zoned C-1 (General Commercial) which allows the widest variety of commercial uses, the PUD would amend the base zoning district to C-1a (General Commercial Limited) to limit the potential allowable uses for the site. The proposed PUD complies with the location criteria of the Round Rock 2030 Comprehensive Plan for commercial development.
The site is situated, and has frontage along, State Highway 45 and was previously part of the Dell Campus, envisioned to accommodate future expansion. The Round Rock 2030 Plan addresses the need for the City to adapt to change. The market has changed and is more supportive of remote work for many industries, minimizing office space needed for onsite employees and freeing up the land for repurpose. An implementation strategy associated with adapting to change mentions consideration for land uses related to modernization of communications infrastructure and ensuring the accommodation of more advanced networks. Data centers play an integral role in cloud based storage of data since hard copy data storage is becoming obsolete. Another...
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