Patterson’s 45-day moratorium chills any talks of data center construction
The city of Patterson has approved a 45-day moratorium on data centers. The action was taken at a special meeting Thursday after word got out a developer planned to open one within city bounds.
It started as a rumor circulating around the water-strapped town. Then, local civic content creator Marco Ahumada posted a video on Instagram on June 30 that said “the rumors are true.”
At an economic strategic commission meeting May 21, Ahumada asked if there was any information he could share on a data center after being approached by residents. Community Development Director Bryan Stice confirmed he’d been approached but nothing formal was submitted.
At a following economic strategic commission meeting July 8, he reiterated he was contacted informally by someone who was interested in building a data center in Patterson.
By Thursday, Patterson City Hall chambers were full of residents who had come to speak in favor of the moratorium. Others spoke through Zoom.
The subbasin that Patterson relies on for its groundwater has what’s known as “subsidence,” which means the ground literally sinks as the aquifer below is depleted by overpumping.
A large data center can use millions of gallons of water per day for cooling operations, according to an MIT tech review.
The water available in Patterson, both in quantity and quality, is a topic of contention because the community has high levels of the drinking water contaminant hexavalent chromium.
Kat Ritchie, a Patterson resident who attended the July 8 meeting, said she’s not fully against a data center in the area, but studies are needed before they move forward with it.
“The town needs to understand what they are getting themselves into before they get themselves into it,” Ritchie said.
‘Permitted use’ vs. moratorium
Generally, law states that data centers can be allowed “by right,” meaning if one is placed in an area already zoned industrial, it is considered a “permitted use.”
But the interim emergency ordinance approved with a 4-0 vote Thursday evening places a hold on data center development while the city explores the health and safety impact it would have, according to Doug White, assistant city attorney for Patterson.
Patterson residents and speakers from Modesto, Turlock and the unincorporated communities of Grayson and Westley listed their concerns around sound pollution, electricity use and access to clean water.
Jerynne Scenario, a Patterson resident of 13 years and a third-year student at Stanislaus State, said the city needs to invest in its youth. “Children deserve stable, funded households and schools, and the presence of data centers would destabilize the cost of electricity, increase noise pollution and worsen air quality.”
Representatives from the Modesto-based Valley Improvement Projects spoke in support of the moratorium, and Save Del Puerto Canyon printed for attendees copies of a letter supporting the motion.
The city already has restrictions on water supply, including a pump reduction plan that limits how much water can be extracted from the city’s aquifers.
“Patterson up and down has concerns about the amount of water,” Ritchie said. “We’re already on rations.”
Kandace Weyhrauch, a community organizer in Patterson, said she knows that a facility like this will try to “sell the community” on the project.
“They’re going to tell us that this one will be quiet, this one’s not going to use water, it’s going to generate its own energy — all the things that we want to hear. But unfortunately, there are data centers that have said they will only use recycled water and then once they get in there, they’ve sued the city to access fresh water,” she said, referencing a developer’s lawsuit in the Imperial Valley.
One voice in data center’s favor
Joe Hollowell, an owner of the property that would be used for the proposed data center on the west part of town, was the only person who during public comment spoke in favor of the development.
He said he, along with his partner Larry Buehner, were worried about the stigma a moratorium would bring to the project.
“A moratorium, it’s usually not good in marketing this community,” Hollowell said. “There’s no doubt there’s issues related to data centers, but there’s also positives related to data centers.”
Buehner, who has owned several large properties on the west side of Patterson, hung up when called by The Bee.
Hollowell said a data center could bring increased property value and temporary construction jobs, but also some long-term jobs to the community in electrical and security. “They typically don’t use a lot of other services except for water and power,” he said.
Hollowell did not respond to a call from The Bee seeking additional information.
Patterson Councilmember Carlos Roque put forth the motion to approve the moratorium. “We put you guys as a priority,” Roque said, gesturing to the public. “We listen and we understand your concerns.”
He repeated his statement in Spanish.
Turlock Irrigation District provides electricity to Patterson residents. Constance Anderson, a spokesperson for the utility, said it does not comment on discussions with specific developers or potential customers.
“More broadly though, we are in regularly in communication with customers, businesses, cities, and developers interested in receiving service from TID, many of which are drawn to our service area by some of the lowest rates in the state and the high reliability provided by TID.”
Stice, the city’s community development director, said at the July 8 meeting that it would be inappropriate to take a stance on the project.
The largest industrial section in Patterson is west of Baldwin Road to the Delta Mendota canal.
In 2024, local Realtor Kanwarbir “KC” Chima listed for just under $10 million an almost 20-acre property with “The Rogers Road Industrial Hub” at 555 Rogers Road. The land is just south of a Restoration Hardware abutting the Delta Mendota canal in Patterson.
Chima, who sits on the Stanislaus County Planning Commission for District 5 where the proposed data center would likely be located, did not return a phone call from The Bee.
George Galloway Mac Master, who was the broker of the Rogers Road Industrial Hub deal, said he was not available to speak to The Bee in time for publication.
White said the city will seek extensions up to two years to allow more time for the city to assess the impact of a potential data center and it will work “aggressively” to put in protections for the community.
“I think this shows the heart of this community, that when we hear information from the public as to their concerns, this council will move swiftly to act.” said Patterson Mayor Michael Clauzel at the conclusion of the meeting.
