NorthPoint's rumored Modesto data center stirs zoning fight
A 45-acre former chemical plant tests whether local land-use rules can hold against data center demand.
NorthPoint Development is the rumored developer of a data center on a 45-acre former FMC chemical plant site in Modesto, California, according to Data Center Dynamics. The outlet points to a social media post from council member Chris Ricci saying the company has been lobbying the council. No formal applications have been filed, and the project's size, capacity, and operator are unconfirmed.
The land at 1200 Graphics Road has been vacant since the plant closed in 1984. Cleanup of barium, strontium, arsenic, and fuel contamination ended in 2007, yet the site has stayed empty. NorthPoint applied to split the property into two parcels; the Modesto Planning Commission accepted the application and deemed it complete in December 2025.
The rumors have drawn opposition from residents on social media and at city hall meetings, with some council members also pushing for a data center moratorium. Mayor Sue Zwahlen did not comment when asked about a moratorium; other council members said they support one. Current municipal code prohibits data centers as a land use, though zoning and building codes could change if an application arrives.
Public opposition centers on water and energy usage. The site's cleanup took 23 years; the fight over what replaces it may take longer.
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