By Tomas Wong / Share Lin

Both January 13^th and 27^th planning commissions meetings were canceled

Regular Meeting Monterey Park City Hall Council Wednesday, January 4, 2026

Meeting canceled

Regular Meeting Monterey Park City Hall Council Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Data Center Moratorium:

At its January 21 meeting, the Monterey Park City Council unanimously adopted a 45-day moratorium on new data center development, at the request of Council Member Vinh Ngo (District 5). 

During the meeting, residents provided public comment expressing concerns about the proposed data center project’s proximity to residential neighborhoods and its potential environmental impacts. 

The moratorium allows staff time to evaluate and prepare potential regulations, including a possible citywide prohibition. A public hearing on this matter is expected prior to March 7, 2026, in accordance with state law.

This action item may have implications for land use planning and future commercial development within the City, and I will continue to monitor updates.

For more information please check  the city website at https://www.montereypark.ca.gov/datacenter.

The current hot topic is the Data Center. There was a special city town hall meeting on January 21, 2026, that lasted till midnight. There is a lot of controversy over this at the moment and I am sure more details will be following suit.

The entire meeting is also made available on YouTube.

Here is the current state of play regarding the controversial 1977 Saturn Street project:

The Result of the January 21 Meeting

Despite the project moving through City Hall for nearly two years with relatively little public fanfare, the massive resident turnout triggered a major policy shift:

• 45-Day Moratorium: The Council unanimously approved a temporary halt on all data center development. This expires on March 7, 2026.
• The Surprise Shift: While the initial goal for many was just to get an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or a temporary pause, the energy in the room was so high that the Council directed staff to draft an outright, permanent ban on data centers.
• Personal Ties: Mayor Elizabeth Yang noted during the meeting that her own family lives within a mile of the site, stating she wouldn't vote for something that could "hurt my own family."

Why the Controversy?

The opposition, led by groups like No Data Center Monterey Park, has raised several "red flag" concerns:

• Energy Consumption: Estimates suggest the facility would use roughly 434 million kWh per year—effectively doubling the entire city's current electricity consumption.
• Environmental Impact: Concerns about the 14 to 24 diesel backup generators and their potential for air pollution and noise in the majority-immigrant community.
• Water Usage: While the developer (HMC StratCap) claims a "closed-loop" system, residents are skeptical of the impact on the local water table during droughts.
• Conflict of Interest: There has been significant scrutiny regarding Councilmember Thomas Wong, due to his employment with Southern California Edison. The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) recently determined he has a conflict of interest and cannot vote on the Saturn Street application.

What’s Happening Right Now (February 2026)

The situation is moving fast. As of today, February 4, the City Council is scheduled to discuss the next major step:

• Ballot Measure: The Council is considering directing the City Attorney to prepare a ballot proposition for the November 2026 election. This would let voters decide on a permanent citywide ban.
• Housing Alternative: There is growing talk about rezoning the Saturn Park area specifically for housing instead of industrial use.

It seems the developer is still trying to salvage the project by promising a public park and an EIR, but the community momentum is currently leaning heavily toward a total block.