Mississauga city council has passed a motion to pause data centre development for one year while it takes a closer look at this growing and often debated industry.
In a statement, the city mentioned that the council “approved a motion directing staff to prepare an Interim Control By-law (ICBL) that would prohibit the approval of development of digital infrastructure projects, such as data centres, for up to one year.”
The upcoming review will evaluate “whether updates to City policies and regulations such as the Official Plan and Zoning By-law are needed,” according to the statement.
This review will also consider how data centres might affect infrastructure, economic activity, environmental impact, noise levels, as well as energy and water use.
The city noted that this review would incorporate public feedback and assist in “informing future policies and decision-making related to digital infrastructure while balancing economic growth, sustainability and community well-being.”
‘Let’s do our homework first’: Councillor
Mississauga Councillor Martin Reid brought forward the motion during Wednesday’s council meeting. City News spoke with Reid days earlier at what he described as the site of the first large hyperscale data centre in the area.
This location is on Tenth Line west of Winston Churchill Boulevard and Hwy. 401, close to Lisgar GO station. The site is adjacent to a house, a church, green space, and an existing warehouse. Just a short distance away lies a large shopping centre along with current and proposed residential developments.
While talking with residents, Reid mentioned he had heard concerns about cities in the U. S. facing issues like excessive water and electricity usage.
Without significant examples in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), he pointed out that it creates quite a bit of uncertainty.
“There are still so many questions that need to be answered, and until we have a fulsome understanding of it this is not something that I feel that I can responsibly support,” Reid said.
“We’re not sure what the tenant is going to be using it for, so there are worst-case scenarios that we read, there are totally safe examples that we read and the reality is that we’re somewhere in the middle with no clear answers.
“Let’s do our homework first before we say yes.”
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