Nephi planners to weigh a 677-acre data center and power plant zone on Nov. 11

About 677 acres outside Nephi could come into the city under a zone built for data centers and gas-fired power plants. The Planning Commission takes public comment on the zoning Nov. 11, according to the hearing notice. ^[1]

The request is an annexation zone assignment for the Nebo South Phase 1 annexation, made by Set Square and represented by Jonathan Vanica. It covers eight parcels totaling 677.142 acres. Six of them, about 604 acres, belong to RR Garrett LLC or to R. Blake and Susan K. Garrett, one parcel as trustees, and two, about 73 acres, are held by Beatrice M. Winn as trustee. ^[1]

The notice lists the ID4 zone's primary uses as data centers, public and private utilities including gas-generated power plants, and uses that support them. A map of the area is available at City Hall during office hours. ^[1] The hearing is at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 21 E. 100 North.

How Nephi got here

Nephi adopted zoning for large data centers in late 2025. The zone requires air-cooled or closed-loop cooling, which uses less water than evaporative systems, sets light-pollution rules and requires any polluting part of a project to have a Utah Division of Air Quality permit before the city approves it, KUER reported in June. Land outside the city would have to be annexed before a data center could be built on it, and City Administrator Seth Atkinson said the zone gives the council a lot of discretion over where data centers go. Nephi runs its own electric and natural gas utilities. ^[4]

At an Oct. 27 joint work session, the council and Planning Commission discussed a new step in the city's process: the Planning Commission will now recommend zoning for an annexation before the City Council takes it up, in line with the state land use law, according to the approved minutes. ^[3] That is the step the Nov. 11 hearing covers. The Planning Commission's recommendation goes to the City Council, which decides both the annexation and its zone.

Also in Nephi

At its Nov. 3 meeting, the City Council heard a presentation by Buddy Rizer of Loudoun County Economic Development on the effect of data centers on Loudoun County, Virginia. ^[2]

At the Oct. 27 work session, council members and planners settled on a maximum of four stories and 24 units per acre for a possible CU-3 zone along interstate exits that would allow condominiums and apartments but not single-family homes or townhomes. They also agreed to keep exploring rules for detached accessory dwelling units. ^[3]

On Nov. 11 the Planning Commission will also hear a request by Veracity Investments, represented by Riley Park, to rezone property near 500 North and Main Street from CU-1 to CU-2, to match the rest of the east half of its block. ^[5]