The request for a special use permit for a POSSIBLE data center will be decided by the Shreveport City Council. That is no surprise because the “loser” at the MPC hearing, be that the proponent or opponent, had the right to appeal to the Council.
Many issues/concerns at the MPC hearing yesterday were not relevant, not factual, and misdirected. Here is a summarized review of these misguided comments.
1. Unhappiness about the industrial zoning of the tract adjacent to a residential neighborhood is NOT a valid issue for consideration. This tract is zoned INDUSTRIAL and the zoning was not an agenda item for the MPC board.
2. Similarly, unhappiness on the notification zone of adjoining property owners is NOT a valid issue for consideration. The UDC sets the notice requirements and the applicant complied with these.
3. The identity of the potential owner/builder of the proposed data center is NOT a relevant factor. The conditions of the special use permit ARE relevant;
4. Diesel powered generators are for backup and will not run 24/7, thus concerns over generator noise and diesel pollutants are exaggerated.
5. Appropriate treatment of wastewater was ensured by the applicant’s agreement to purchase/pay for any needed DOWUS equipment.
6. Any potential increase in electricity rates are under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission, not the MPC;.
7. Concerns over a loud constant hum from the center audible to neighborhood houses have been addressed in recent data center construction throughout the nation.
Opponents of the data center ignored and/or did not understand several key factors:
a. Shreveport has plenty of water to sell and the income from sales is needed by DOWUS to pay for operational costs including the EPA Consent Decree:
b. Each of the seven proposed buildings will have 28-30 permanent employees with wages estimated at 150% of the average Caddo Parish wage.
c. Sales taxes on the construction materials and data center are exempt under state law. However, the estimated 1000 construction workers will certainly spend substantial retail dollars that will generate much needed sales tax revenue.
d. The applicant agreed that the decibel level of the data center would be the same as for residential neighborhoods.
e. The special use permit conditions suggested by the MPC staff are consistent with UDC provisions to mitigate any construction negatives.
f. Another meeting of neighborhood residents would be a waste of time and the request by the applicant to vote yesterday was appropriate to keep the process in motion since an appeal to the council was expected.
This issue will be a major vote for the City Council. Hopefully emotions versus facts will guide the vote of the Council members. Those council members seeking reelection next year will have to decide if this vote is a hill to die on.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.