Project Timeline

The proposed data center project in Monterey Park had been moving through the City’s planning and approval process for over a year through technical reviews and procedural steps. During that time, public awareness and outreach lagged behind key milestones, leaving many residents unaware of the project until the final step before approval.

Once residents became aware, they were understandably upset and felt betrayed by their City Council.

The timeline below outlines key relevant events, from what we consider the beginning (the passage of Measure JJ by voters in 2020) to present day (February 2026). Much of this timeline was pieced together after the fact by residents who had to sift through piles of documents to understand how a data center developer is at Monterey Park’s doorstep.

June 2020

  • Monterey Park voters approve Measure JJ, designating Saturn Park for “Innovation / Technology.”

  • Existing zoning allows data processing, not explicitly data centers; heavy industrial uses remain prohibited.

April 2023

  • HMC contacts the City asking whether “data centers” qualify as allowed “data processing facilities.”

  • Assistant City Planner responds that they are equivalent.

September 2023

  • HMC seeks confirmation that no Development Agreement is required.

  • City Attorney provides no guarantees, but states one is not required, allowing HMC to proceed.

January 2024

  • HMC submits permit and design review applications for the data center.

April 2024

  • Planning Director flags that the proposed data center conflicts with Measure JJ, triggering internal reassessment of zoning.

May 2024

  • City forms SPARC to solicit community input on Saturn Park zoning.

  • Process signals an intent to amend zoning to accommodate data centers.

June 2024

  • City adopts a temporary moratorium on data centers.

  • HMC is granted an exception, allowing its project to continue.

July 29 – August 29, 2024

  • SPARC sessions are held.

  • Sessions include discussion of the Saturn Park data center despite City claims otherwise.

  • Outcome is a recommendation to pursue zoning amendments.

October 2024

  • City publishes a Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) claiming no significant environmental impacts across all potential factors.

November 2024

  • City passes Ordinance 2253 that changes zoning on Saturn Park and opens to the door to data center development.

  • City Attorney states no further environmental review is required if compliant.

December 2024 – September 2025

  • Nine-month gap with no publicly available documents released.

September 3, 2025

  • Public hearing adopts a Conditional Use Ordinance approving data centers at Saturn Park, contingent on a Development Agreement.

November 14, 2025

  • HMC requests a delay of the MND vote to December 3.

December 2, 2025

  • HMC sends an email pressuring City Council to approve the project, characterizing online criticism as “misinformation.”

December 3, 2025

  • HMC reverses course and requests a delay to January 21.

  • Monterey Park City Council grants the delay.

  • Monterey Park follows up by postponing the vote indefinitely to give HMC more time.

January 10, 2026

  • No Data Center MPK conducts a teach-in in Monterey Park.

  • 100+ attendees, mainly Monterey Park residents, attended and learned about the details of the project for the first time.

January 21, 2026

  • HMC voluntarily agrees to conduct an EIR, caving to growing public pressure.

  • Monterey Park City Council places agenda item to consider a 45-day temporary moratorium on data centers.

  • 300+ residents of Monterey Park and surrounding cities pack the chambers to urge approval of moratorium.

  • About 100 speakers signed up to give public comment which resulted in the meeting last 6 hours; nearly all comments opposed the data center.

  • Council approves the 45-day moratorium (to be reviewed on March 4).

  • Three of five councilmembers (Yang, Sanchez, and Lo) make comment taking a clear position against data centers and commit to getting to a permanent ban.

January 31, 2026

  • HMC, through their lobby firm Actum, starts a misinformation campaign.

February 4, 2026

  • HMC, through their legal firm, starts an intimidation campaign and threatens to sue the City if it continues down the path of a permanent ban.

  • About 80 speakers signed up to give public comment and hundreds emailed letters.

  • Monterey Park City Council votes to explore banning data centers through a council-led ballot initiative.

March 4, 2026 (TBD)

  • Likely extension of moratorium for another 10 months and 15 days.

  • Likely shown ballot language for a June ballot.