Aurora weighs how close data centers can get to homes
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QTS, a data center company, has a 65-acre facility in Aurora that'll eventually expand. Photo: RJ Sangosti/Getty
Aurora's writing new data center rules, but months into the debate, city leaders haven't settled on how far the massive structures should sit from neighborhoods.
Why it matters: Data centers can be behemoths — warehouse-size buildings with noisy generators and industrial equipment that can run around the clock, just beyond residential yards.
The latest: Council members landed on a temporary 350-foot minimum setback Monday as they wrestle with a permanent standard.
- For now, they agreed to measure from a data center's closest building or critical equipment to a residential zone's edge.
Yes, but: It's unclear which data centers would have to follow Aurora's eventual setback rules.
- Some planned centers could get pushed farther from neighbors.
- And council's considering whether power-hungry projects need more separation.
Zoom in: That matters right now in northeast Aurora, where Vantage Data Centers plans two buildings totaling nearly 860,000 square feet on 108 acres near E-470 and East 48th Avenue.
- Residents at the Reserve at Green Valley Ranch, a 55+ community, have concerns about noise, light pollution, diesel exhaust and water demand.
What they're saying: "[Q]uality of life matters," resident Jacqueline Peterson told the council.
Meanwhile, council members unanimously advanced a broader ban this week on evaporative cooling in future multifamily, commercial and industrial developments — including data centers.
- The council could vote on the ordinance's final approval Sept. 28.
Caveat: The cooling ordinance could apply to some projects moving through Aurora's development pipeline, but the city hasn't identified which ones.
- Five data centers are in the permitting or land-acquisition phase.
Reality check: Aurora already requires that new data centers use closed-loop cooling systems that recycle water.
- And the city's nine existing data centers wouldn't face the new cooling restrictions because the ordinance wouldn't be retroactive.
Zoom out: Among Colorado's biggest right now is the 65-acre QTS data center on North Gun Club Road, which is operational and scheduled to expand.
Flashback: Council members rejected a six-month ban on new data centers in a 6-5 vote last month.
What's next: Aurora still has to settle permanent setbacks, noise rules and how equipment is screened from nearby homes.