Thank you for all of your concerns and for becoming more engaged. The grading permit and underground utilities permit were issued, and this project has already broken ground. I’d be willing to talk with anyone on how developments are planned and approved. Not all permits and projects come before City Council or City Commissions but that doesn’t mean they haven’t had a public process that was followed to reach the approval at staff level. If you want to change city code, there's a process for that. There's a process for everything.

Sharon Goei is the Community Development Director and has full authority for the approval of Architectural and Site Review Permit AS 20-23 application once complete. Planning Staff in her department reviewed the project for compliance with the applicable review criteria, pursuant to Zoning Code Chapter 30, Section 30.21.10 of the Gilroy City Code. That's the code that provides her the power and, in that code, it also states that Data Processing Establishments are unconditionally permitted (meaning they don't need to get planning commission or city council approval if they are located on land zoned already for them).

This project went through a public process called CEQA or the California Environmental Quality Act. It is a 1970 state law requiring California public agencies to review, disclose, and mitigate significant environmental impacts of their proposed projects, ensuring transparency and public involvement in government decisions to prevent avoidable environmental damage. It mandates agencies to "look before they leap," identifying potential effects, exploring alternatives, and implementing measures to reduce harm before project approval, often through documents like Negative Declarations or Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs).

There are many ways to stay in touch with the actions of the City of Gilroy and there are multiple ways that the City of Gilroy, City Council, and City Commissions provide updates. Start with who represents you in the Gilroy City Council and ask how they provide updates and opportunities for public input to the community. You can find out by looking up your address here to see which district you live in.
https://redistrictingpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Draft-F-Fair-1.html

This city website where you found the project details also has many other projects and a spreadsheet with development activity too.
https://www.cityofgilroy.org/298/Development-Activity-Projects

Zach Hilton
Gilroy City Council Member
www.zachhilton.com

#HiltonForCouncil @zachhilton_ca