Chandler adds data centers to ‘use permitted on review’

By Emily Kalka Editor on Wednesday, April 22, 2026
  • Kollins Corea won third place in the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry Oklahoma Poem Contest. Her poem was about the Rose Rock, the topic for 8th grade students. There were 643 entries from kindergarten to the adult category. Kollins attended the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry Celebration in Locust Grove on April 11, 2026, where she read her poem and accepted her prize. Not pictured is the winner of second place in this category, Brycen Austin.
    Kollins Corea won third place in the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry Oklahoma Poem Contest. Her poem was about the Rose Rock, the topic for 8th grade students. There were 643 entries from kindergarten to the adult category. Kollins attended the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry Celebration in Locust Grove on April 11, 2026, where she read her poem and accepted her prize. Not pictured is the winner of second place in this category, Brycen Austin.

    The Chandler City Council voted to add data centers as “use permitted on review” under an industrial zoning ordinance in its regularmeetingonApril14.

    What this means is that if a company plans to build a data center within city limits in areas zoned for industrial use, they must go through the planning committee and city council, as well as have public hearings.

    “That gives the public plenty of opportunity to hear things, gives us the opportunity to research it. We won’t have to make a decision immediately if we can table anything,” said Mayor Kent McVey.

    City Manager Jason Orr said he would have the ordinance drafted and ready for the Council to approve at the next meeting in May. He also stated that he has not been contacted by any data center companies and isn’t interested in bringing any to the area.

    “I can just tell you unofficially, they’re not going to get very far with me anyway. Because I think if we’re going to use our resources and our land and everything else, I want it to be for a manufacturing plant that’s going to provide jobs,” Orr said.

    The Council approved an ordinance that would rezone property that will eventually be used for a new 911 Dispatch center from unzoned to General Commercial. They then approved an application to rezone a different property at 424 E. 1st Street from unzoned to General Commercial for a new car wash.

    TheCouncilwentintoexecutive session, and when theycameback,theyagreed to continue with settlement negotiations.

    At the Chandler Municipal Authority Meeting prior to the Council meeting, the Council approved a contract amendment with SRB Engineering for $128,650 for the Water Treatment Plant expansion. This is duetoexpandingtheproject from 365 days to 720 days, among other issues.