BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS NEW REGULATIONS FOR DATA CENTERS, CAR WASHES
The Brenham City Council on Thursday will contribute its thoughts on the city’s conversation regarding proposed text amendments to city code for car washes and data centers.
Last week, Brenham Planning and Zoning Commissioners received information about several proposals, one of which would enact water-saving regulations for car washes via an update to plumbing code, requiring new car washes or existing car washes that undergo a large renovation to utilize water recycling systems. The other proposal would define data centers in the zoning ordinance and list them as a specific use in the industrial zoning district – meaning proposed data centers would undergo a property-specific analysis and two public hearings – and prohibit the use of any water-based cooling technology, unless the water source is approved by the city and is not City of Brenham potable water.
The amendments were received favorably by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the council will consider a noise variance request from Washington County about its courthouse renovation project. The county’s contractor has agreed to amend its construction schedule for nighttime work in order to better accommodate the courts and their activity.
If approved, the contractor would begin a nighttime work schedule on Monday, March 9th. The contractor would work from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and on a schedule of 9 days on, 5 days off.
The council will also take up a professional services agreement with Strand Associates for engineering services to build a new, 300,000-gallon elevated storage tank along Highway 36 South. The agreement would be for an amount not to exceed $375,000.
Another item will be for a public hearing and action on a rezoning request for 11.4 acres of land around Oak Tree Crossing Drive, moving from B-1 Local Business Mixed Use to R-1 Single-Family Residential Use. The rezoning request came about via a petition from property owners in the Timber Oaks subdivision, who are seeking to protect the area’s residential use.
The rezoning request was recommended for approval during last week’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
In other business, councilmembers will:
- Act on ordinances providing for no parking zones on the eastward side of Oak Tree Crossing, beginning at its intersection with Old Mill Creek Road and extending to the traffic circle ending at 1401 Timber Oaks Drive; and on the north side of West Alamo Street (Business 290) beginning at Seward Street and extending east for approximately 715 feet, ending at the railroad tracks.
- Accept a bid for type “D” hot mix asphalt.
- Receive a work session presentation on the city’s first quarter financial report.
- Hold an executive session discussion regarding the Brenham Municipal Airport and the transition to a new city manager with the coming retirement of Carolyn Miller.
The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.