Monterey Park City Council Meeting, Feb. 4, 2026 (Photo – Screengrab)
The Monterey Park City Council is continuing its review of data center development policies and future land use planning following recent actions taken in January and February 2026.
By John Boucher
At its February 4, 2026 meeting, the City Council directed staff to return at the March 4, 2026 City Council meeting with additional options related to prohibiting data center uses and exploring future land use planning possibilities. This direction includes evaluating potential zoning regulations that could be adopted by the City Council, as well as considering the possible development of a ballot measure to prohibit data centers throughout the City. The review may also include options to expand residential uses within Saturn Park.
Earlier, at its January 21, 2026 meeting, the City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance establishing a 45-day moratorium on data center development citywide. The ordinance temporarily prohibits the acceptance or processing of data center applications while the City evaluates long-term policy options. The moratorium was brought forward at the request of Councilmember Vinh Ngo of District 5.
During discussions, the City Council expressed interest in reviewing residential-oriented land use alternatives within the Saturn Park Innovation/Technology Zone. This interest is consistent with prior Council actions and reflects public input supporting additional housing opportunities in the area.
The City Council is expected to consider extending the moratorium at the March 4, 2026 meeting to provide additional time for staff and the City Attorney to prepare and present policy and land use options. Any extension of the moratorium or future policy actions will be subject to public discussion and City Council approval.
Publicly available documents related to Monterey Park’s data center regulations can be found at this link. Once the March 4 meeting date is noticed and the agenda is published, it will be available here.
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