Data & Energy Storage in Hillsboro: Phase I Code Amendments

Data Centers are currently allowed in the following zones: 

• All Industrial Zones 
• One Commercial Zone (Commercial-General) 
• Three Urban Center (Mixed Use) Zones (Neighborhood Center, Research Park, and Office/Research) 

Use Hillsboro Maps to explore these zones. Be sure to select the Community Development and Zoning layers.  

The Code Amendment proposes to prohibit data centers as a standalone (primary) use in all industrial zones except Industrial Park and Industrial Sanctuary, all commercial zones, and all urban center zones.  

To what extent do you agree with this proposed change? 

The Code Amendment proposes to limit stand-alone data centers by acreage in the following zones: 

• Industrial Park (I-P): 215 acres 
• Industrial Sanctuary (I-S): 310 acres 

There are currently about 203 acres of data centers with land use "vesting" (approved before code amendments) in the Industrial Park zone and about 293 acres in the Industrial Sanctuary zone. NOTE: this does not include data centers in Jackson East as there are already maximum acreage limitations in that area. 

The newly proposed acreage limitations would include existing data centers. For example, in the above proposed acreages, there would be 12 additional acres in the I-P zone and 17 additional acres in the I-S zone for stand-alone data centers.

To what extent do you agree with this proposed change? 

Many businesses and organizations need data storage and processing to accomplish their work. The Code Amendment proposes to allow data centers as an accessory use with limitations potentially including the type of data center and size.  

An accessory use is a use incidental and subordinate to the main use of the property, located on the same lot as the main structure or use. For example, a manufacturer could have office and fabrication space as the primary use on a property, with a data center as a smaller, secondary use.

To what extent do you agree with this proposed change? 

The Community Development Code does not specifically address Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities at this time. 

A BESS is one or more devices, assembled together, for storing and discharging electricity primarily  intended to supply electricity to a building or  to the electrical grid. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: battery cells; enclosures and dedicated-use buildings; thermal, battery,  and energy management system components and accessory equipment and structures.

The amendment proposes to define the use and include limitations for the use. 

To what extent do you agree with this proposed change?  

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