Project Timeline

The proposed data center project in Monterey Park has been moving through the City’s planning and approval process over a year, largely through technical reviews and procedural steps. During much of this time, public awareness and outreach lagged behind key milestones, leaving many residents unaware of the project until it was already well underway.

As the timeline has progressed, the City has chosen to delay any final vote at the request of both the project applicant and community members. These continuances have extended the process without resolving fundamental questions about environmental impacts, public health, infrastructure capacity, and long-term land use. This history helps explain why residents are calling for greater transparency, meaningful community engagement, and a more thorough review before any final decision is made.

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 Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) claiming no significant environmental impacts.

November 2024

  • City staff shift approach and require a Development Agreement, distinguishing data centers from data processing facilities.

  • 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.