Monterey Park moved from a temporary pause to a citywide data-center ban
HMC StratCap withdrew its Saturn Street application in March 2026, citing the city's restrictions. A May ordinance prohibited data centers, and the city later confirmed voters had adopted the ban.
The short version
- The developer's March 31 letter withdrew the 1977 Saturn Street application and cited the moratorium and planned ballot proposition.
- Ordinance 2278 was adopted May 6. The city's current information confirms a voter-adopted citywide ban.
- Yes on Measure NDC reported $20,083.49 in total expenditures through June 30. Pre-election filings identify payments for campaign literature and mailings.
Why it matters. The record covers both a specific application ending and a citywide land-use restriction, rather than a delay to one permit.
The applicant put the reason in writing
On March 31, 2026, HMC StratCap withdrew its application for a data center at 1977 Saturn Street. Its letter to the city pointed to the existing moratorium and the planned prohibition ballot measure as conditions unsuitable for development. It also said the applicant would not contest the proposition.
The restriction extended beyond that site
Ordinance 2278, adopted May 6, removed data-center uses from the zoning rules. It retained an exception for server rooms that are subordinate to another primary use—not independent commercial data centers.
The political effort has a public paper trail: the city clerk maintains Yes on Measure NDC’s campaign filings. The city’s current ballot information confirms that voters adopted the data-center prohibition and says a separate housing proposal would not change it.
For the Saturn Street applicant, the project ended with a withdrawal. For future applicants, the citywide prohibition reaches beyond that one property.
The campaign’s spending is visible, too
Yes on Measure NDC’s semiannual filing, page 3, reports $23,019.13 in contributions and $20,083.49 in total expenditures for the calendar year through June 30. Those totals include nonmonetary amounts; cash payments were $19,740.10.
The pre-election filing, pages 6–7, shows one way that money became campaigning: two payments to Mailing Pros, Inc., totaling $7,423.80, classified as campaign literature and mailings. Those payments are part of the campaign’s finances, not additional money to add to its total.
The outcome was a voter-adopted prohibition, but the filings cannot tell us how many votes the mailings changed. Nor is one committee’s budget the cost of every resident’s organizing. Follow the money and action, or open the project’s decision trail.
A dated record
- March 31, 2026
Applicant withdraws the Saturn Street proposal.
HMC StratCap / DigiCo, filed with Monterey Park · source ↓ - May 6, 2026
Council adopts Ordinance 2278.
City of Monterey Park · source ↓ - June 2, 2026
Measure NDC goes to voters; the city subsequently confirms the voter-adopted prohibition.
City of Monterey Park · source ↓City of Monterey Park · source ↓
The supporting record
Yes on Measure NDC's semiannual Form 460 reports calendar-year contributions of $23,019.13 and total expenditures of $20,083.49 through June 30, including nonmonetary amounts.
The April 19–May 16 pre-election statement lists two payments to Mailing Pros, Inc., of $3,712.38 and $3,711.42, coded LIT for campaign literature and mailings.
HMC StratCap 1977 Saturn, LLC withdrew its application and said it did not intend to contest the forthcoming ballot proposition.
Ordinance 2278 removed data-center uses from zoning provisions while retaining subordinate accessory server rooms.
The city confirms the voter-adopted prohibition; its clerk also publishes campaign filings for Yes on Measure NDC.
What we do not yet know
- The property's eventual replacement use or any future legal challenge to the restrictions.
Original documents, with context
Sources you can inspect
1. Applicant correspondence · HMC StratCap / DigiCo, filed with Monterey Park
1977 Saturn Street: applicant's withdrawal letter
The applicant states its own reason for withdrawal. This establishes the application outcome, not every motive behind the city's restrictions.
Publication: 2026-03-31 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: monterey-withdrawal
Location in source: Single-page letter, paragraphs 2–42. Adopted ordinance · City of Monterey Park
Monterey Park Ordinance 2278: data-center prohibition
The text distinguishes prohibited data-center uses from permitted subordinate accessory server rooms. It is an enacted zoning record, not the later ballot tally.
Publication: 2026-05-06 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: monterey-ordinance-2278
Location in source: Sections 5–11; adoption and vote on PDF pages 9–103. Current municipal explanation · City of Monterey Park
City confirmation of the voter-adopted data-center ban
Used only to confirm the existing ban, not to support or oppose the separate November housing measure. The page is not a certified election-results table.
Publication: 2026 housing-ballot information · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: monterey-ban-confirmation
Location in source: Key Facts: Data Center Ban Affirmed; FAQ 34. Campaign disclosure register · Monterey Park City Clerk
Yes on Measure NDC: campaign filing register
Establishes a disclosed ballot-measure committee and available filings. No aggregate spending or donor-direction claim is inferred from the register.
Publication: March–June 2026 filings · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: monterey-ndc-filings
Location in source: Statement of organization, contribution reports and Form 460 entries5. Form 460 campaign disclosure · Monterey Park City Clerk · committee filing
Yes on Measure NDC: semiannual campaign statement through June 30, 2026
The year-to-date totals include nonmonetary amounts and are not just the May–June reporting period. This is one committee’s reported account, not all local opposition spending or proof of persuasion.
Publication: Filed July 30, 2026 · period May 17–June 30, 2026 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: monterey-ndc-semiannual
Location in source: PDF page 3, Summary Page, column B: calendar-year contributions $23,019.13, expenditures $20,083.49; cash payments $19,740.10. Pages 5–7: period payments.6. Form 460 itemized payments · Monterey Park City Clerk · committee filing
Yes on Measure NDC: second pre-election spending statement
The scanned statement’s coverage dates control, rather than the inconsistent date embedded in its URL. The two payments are within the committee’s cumulative expenditures, not additional spending.
Publication: Reporting period April 19–May 16, 2026 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: monterey-ndc-preelection
Location in source: PDF pages 6–7, Schedule E: Mailing Pros, Inc., $3,712.38 and $3,711.42, code LIT; combined $7,423.80.7. Official ballot information · City of Monterey Park
Monterey Park: June 2, 2026 special municipal election
Establishes the ballot date and subject. Read alongside the city’s later confirmation of the adopted prohibition; this page alone is not a certified vote tally.
Publication: 2026-06-02 election · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: monterey-june-election
Location in source: Election date and Measure NDC, Proposition to Prohibit Data Centers in Monterey Park.
Corrections & additional evidence · support@aipublicopinion.com
