BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL PASSES NEW RULES FOR CAR WASHES & DATA CENTERS ON SECOND READING
The Brenham City Council today (Thursday) unanimously performed the second reading of code amendments to add new restrictions for car washes and data centers.
present the Brenham City Council on Thursday with
a check for $35,000. The donation represents
proceeds from the club's used book sale in
February.
The new standards were unanimously approved upon first reading at the council’s meeting on May 7th. The data center portion of the code amendments was approved in the routine consent agenda today, separate from the car wash portion that was taken up during the regular agenda due to previous lengthy discussion.
City Planner Shauna Laauwe said there are two different effective times for the new car wash restrictions. The revisions to plumbing code that are meant to manage water usage are effective immediately. However, the requirement that all new car washes must receive a specific use permit granted by the council and the Planning and Zoning Commission will not take effect until July 1st, in order to give extra time for a car wash that is actively in the works at Ryan Street and the Highway 290 feeder.
The changes specific to water usage require all new car wash facilities, as well as existing ones that undergo a large renovation, to use water recycling systems, low-flow spray nozzles or other means to limit potable water usage to 55 gallons per vehicle wash. The restrictions do not apply if the car washes incorporate private water well systems, which use groundwater rather than drinking water.
As adopted, the ordinance states that car wash owners looking to renovate greater than 60 percent of the current value of the facility, replace more than 60 percent of the gross floor area, or enlarge the water connection size must install water recycling systems. Councilmember Steve Soman expressed concern that the language might allow for incremental additions to skirt the ordinance if they are falling below the 60 percent threshold. City Attorney Cary Bovey replied that the 60 percent threshold will apply for each application, and that it would be difficult to track incremental changes, but the council can come back and make amendments if necessary.
The code amendments for data centers, approved during consent agenda without discussion, provide official definitions and designate data centers as specific uses in industrial districts, meaning they are required to go through public hearings and a property-specific analysis. They will also be restricted from using water-based cooling methods, and they will face requirements to submit electric demand reports; screen all ground-mounted equipment; adhere to a minimum of one off-street parking space per 300 square feet of floor area used for office, meeting, training or security personnel uses; and maintain at least 300 feet of distance between any data center building or ancillary equipment and the property line of a residential or public institutional use.
Also at today’s meeting, the council approved a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board under the Water Supply and Infrastructure Program, associated with the 2027 State Water Plan. The city is applying for $4,478,000 in grant funds to go toward a project for an elevated water storage tank on Highway 36 South.
In other business, councilmembers heard updates on the Economic Development Department and Main Street Program, and they formally accepted a $35,000 donation from the Fortnightly Club for the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library. The donation represents proceeds from the club’s used book sale held each February at the Washington County Expo and supports the purchase of library materials and technology improvements.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.