City of Fernley Public Meeting

The City of Fernley Planning Commission held a public meeting on July 8, 2026, primarily focused on discussing potential zoning code amendments regulating data centers within the city. The commission reviewed two proposed processes for data center applications: one allowing data centers in industrial zones with conditional use permits and development agreements, and another creating a data center overlay district for more precise location control. Staff emphasized that no approvals were being made at this stage, with further public and stakeholder engagement planned, including meetings with regional partners. Commissioners raised concerns about environmental impacts, water usage, noise monitoring, emergency response, and the economic benefits of data centers compared to other industrial uses. They also discussed potential requirements such as closed-loop cooling systems, decommissioning procedures, and notification distances from residential areas. Additionally, the commission approved a code amendment to introduce a minor conditional use permit process to reduce costs for small businesses establishing uses without new construction. The meeting included public comments expressing environmental and health concerns related to data centers. No contract awards or procurement decisions were made, but the discussions set the stage for future regulatory and development activities related to data centers in Fernley.