The Whittier City Council approved a 45-day temporary moratorium on data centers, detention facilities, massage parlors and car washes at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Following a public hearing, council members voted unanimously to adopt Urgency Ordinance 3174, which sets a temporary moratorium on data centers, Urgency Ordinance 3179, which bans detention facilities, and Urgency Ordinance 3181, which sets a temporary moratorium on massage parlors. The measures freeze the approval, permitting or establishment of any such businesses in the city.
The fourth measure, Urgency Ordinance 3180, covers car washes. Councilmember Cathy Warner cast the only dissenting vote on that item, warning her colleagues about the need to balance support for local business against the problems a business might cause. She said she is not an enthusiastic fan of car washes, but added, "if something is going to be utilized and it's profitable, then we're going to see it." She acknowledged the city has seen many car washes and said she does not personally like their look, but hopes they will be successful and used by residents.
All four ordinances take effect immediately and last 45 days. Ben Pongetti, the city's director of community development, said the proposals grew out of concerns residents expressed about the impacts of each type of business. The council can extend the moratorium on Dec. 8 for another 10 months and 15 days, and may extend it again after that, for a total of up to two years. "This is a temporary measure for up to two years that allows you to study it and then make a decision on whether or not you want to make those code changes permanent in the Whittier Municipal code," Pongetti said.
Councilmember Vicky Santana, who proposed the four-item package, said the ordinances address how Whittier land is best used. On data centers, which are large buildings housing computers that store and process digital information, including artificial intelligence, she pointed to electricity and water demands, backup generation infrastructure, capacity and sound pollution. She also cited the proliferation of massage parlors in Whittier and questions about their legitimacy, as well as the incompatibility of detention facilities with the city's neighborhoods.
Santana said the moratorium on data centers also protects the city against future requirements. If state or federal government were to issue regulations requiring cities to accommodate data centers, she said, a moratorium already in place would keep Whittier from being discriminatory toward future developments.
Opposition to data centers is widespread nationally and in the San Gabriel Valley. Monterey Park became the first U.S. city to permanently ban them, through the voter-approved Measure NDC on June 2, 2026. Alhambra voters will decide on Nov. 3 whether to adopt a charter amendment permanently banning them, and the Irwindale City Council approved a ban on Sept. 9. Baldwin Park, the City of Commerce, Montebello, West Covina and South El Monte have also issued temporary moratoriums.
Councilmember Aida Macedo said the prohibitions should include language on the council's intentions when they return to the governing body. She said that should cover the environmental impacts of data centers, the abuse and human trafficking possibly occurring in massage parlors, and the detention and abuse of immigrants. "In my opinion, it's to protect the integrity of our city and use of our city to what residents really want," Macedo said.
