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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Tracey Vacek, Zoning & Planning Director
John P. Curley, Chief Development Services Officer
Alison Lindburg, Director of Sustainability
DATE: March 9, 2026
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 49 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, by modifying Section 49-103.3 Definitions and 49-104.3 Conditional Uses and Structures with regards to data center facilities
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this ordinance is to establish comprehensive regulations governing the development and operation of data centers in response to the moratorium approved on September 25, 2025, pursuant to Ordinance No. O25-064.
BACKGROUND:
On September 25, 2025, pursuant to Ordinance No. O25-064, a moratorium was approved to allow Staff time to:
• Research national best practices and safeguards implemented through zoning ordinances and building codes.
• Study the environmental, stormwater, and utility impacts of data centers and warehouses.
• Assess fiscal impacts, including long-term service and infrastructure costs.
• Develop potential zoning and performance standards.
• Report findings to City Council within three months.
• Create a definition for data centers and warehouses.
Based on the above research, Staff has drafted the attached Exhibit "A".
The intended sequence to pass the ordinance is through the following process:
Zoning and Planning Commission
Rules, Administration and Procedure Committee
Building, Zoning, and Economic Committee (information only)
Committee of the Whole
City Council (final vote)
DISCUSSION:
Since the adoption of the moratorium, Staff has conducted extensive research into best practices from neighboring comparable municipalities (see attached regulatory summary), engaged with stakeholders, residents, and peer communities, and prepared draft regulations that align with current industry standards while thoughtfully addressing local concerns related to land use compatibility, infrastructure capacity, noise and vibration mitigation, and overall community impacts.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
These regulations are intended to have a positive impact by establishing clear and enforceable standards to guide the review, design, and operation of data centers facilities, ensuring compatibility with surrounding land uses while protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended CONDITIONAL APPROVAL of the Ordinance Amending Chapter 49 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, by modifying Section 49-103.3 Definitions and 49-104.3 Conditional Uses and Structures with regards to Data center facilities with the following condition:
1. That Data center facilities shall be permitted only as a Conditional Use within the M-2 Manufacturing District., General
cc:
Alderman Michael Saville, Chairperson
Alderwoman Patty Smith, Vice Chairperson
Alderman Javier Bañuelos
Alderwoman Juany Garza
Alderman At-Large Will White
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 49 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, by modifying Section 49-103.3 Definitions and 49-104.3 Conditional Uses and Structures with regards to data center facilities
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has experienced increasing development interest in data center facilities; and
WHEREAS, data centers have historically been regulated under zoning and land use classifications applicable to warehouses, despite having fundamentally different operational characteristics and infrastructure demands, including significantly higher electricity loads, water consumption for cooling, backup power generation, and continuous mechanical operations; and
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2025 by Ordinance O25-064, the City Council enacted a temporary moratorium, on new warehouse and data center development to allow time for City staff to study best practices, evaluate community impacts, and develop appropriate standards specific to data centers; and
WHEREAS, residents and community stakeholders raised concerns regarding potential impacts of data centers on neighborhood compatibility, noise and vibration, air quality, water use and water quality, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term utility affordability; and
WHEREAS, unregulated or insufficiently regulated data center development may place disproportionate strain on municipal infrastructure, including electric and water systems, and may result in unintended cost burdens for residents and existing businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has adopted sustainability and climate goals through its 2019 Sustainability Plan intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, protect water resources, and promote environmentally responsible development; and
WHEREAS, municipalities across the country are adopting performance-based standards and benchmarking requirements for high-energy and high-water-use facilities to ensure transparency, accountability, and responsible operation; and
WHEREAS, establishing clear standards to guide the review, design, and operation of data centers which will provide regulatory certainty for applicants, protect public health and welfare, promote responsible economic development, and ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Aurora has determined that it is necessary and desirable to amend Chapter 49 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, being the Zoning Ordinance, in order to update and improve certain Sections of said Ordinance to better carry out the purpose and intent of said Ordinance regarding data centers; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Commission, after publication of notice, held a public hearing on the amendments to said Ordinance and recommended approval of the amendment attached hereto and incorporated herein and hereinafter referred to as Exhibit “A”.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows:
Section One: That the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois finds as fact all of the preamble recitals of this Ordinance.
Section Two: That this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect, and shall be controlling, upon its passage and approval.
Section Three: That all Ordinances or part of Ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed insofar as any conflict exists.
Section Four: That any section, phrase or paragraph of this Ordinance that is construed to be invalid, void or unconstitutional shall not affect the remaining sections, phrases or paragraphs of this Ordinance which shall remain in full force and effect.
Section Five: That the amendments to Chapter 49 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, being the Zoning Ordinance, are hereby adopted as set forth in said Exhibit “A”.