Monterey Park City Council approves ballot measure to prohibit data centers

The Monterey Park City Council voted unanimously on March 4 to place a ballot measure proposing a ban on data centers before voters in the June 2 special election, drawing strong support from residents and opposition from the developer behind a planned facility on Saturn Street.

Signs reading “No Data Center” filled Monterey Park City Hall as dozens of residents spoke during public comment, raising environmental concerns and questioning language in the proposed ballot measure.

One issue discussed during the meeting was a potential loophole in the measure. According to city staff, the language would have prohibited data center projects of one acre or larger but would not have prevented smaller facilities from being built.

Before deliberations, however, the council directed city staff to remove that language, ensuring the measure would prohibit data centers of any size if approved by voters.

According to City Attorney Karl Berger, the council does not have the legal authority to amend the city’s general plan to prohibit data centers without voter approval.

“The only way that the general plan can be amended is with an additional voter proposition or ballot proposition that's approved by voters,” said Berger. “If you view the land-use element as the land-use constitution for the City of Monterey Park, which is what legally it is, that needs to be amended in order to ensure that the prohibition on data centers takes effect on a citywide basis.”

The developer, HMC Stratcap, purchased the property on 1977 Saturn Street where it has proposed building a new data center, to be located near residential homes, parks, shopping centers and a school. 

Data centers have become quite controversial across many communities because they require large amounts of electricity to power computers and often consume significant amounts of water for cooling. Residents in Monterey Park and other cities have also raised concerns about environmental impacts.

Bryan Marsh, a spokesperson for the company, spoke during public comment to defend the proposed development and oppose the ballot measure.

“The goal would be to reach a mutually acceptable win-win solution for Saturn Park,” Marsh said.

“Our preferred path is not to litigate. We must, however, protect our legal rights. We believe there may be a common ground solution. Forcing a ballot proposition with a special election in June 2026 severely degrades our ability to work together,” Marsh said. 

Berger also said the developer has threatened legal action.

“Several times now, both in writing and verbally, the applicant for 1977 Saturn has absolutely threatened to file litigation against the city,” Berger said. “My job is to protect the city, so we have come up with a litigation strategy.”

On June 2, 2026, voters in Monterey Park will decide whether to approve the ballot measure prohibiting data centers from being built in the city.