Opponents of St. Louis data center take their fight to court
Opponents of a proposed $3 billion data center in St. Louis have filed a lawsuit to halt the project after the Board of Adjustment rejected their appeals against a conditional use permit. The plaintiffs argue the Board erred and acted arbitrarily, seeking a court order to reverse the decision. This legal action coincides with St. Louis officials developing new guidelines for data centers.
A group of St. Louis residents has filed a lawsuit to stop a proposed $3 billion hyperscale data center development in midtown St. Louis. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, challenges the St. Louis Board of Adjustment's recent decision to deny appeals and grant a conditional use permit for the project. Plaintiffs Daniel Pate and Kerry McCullen contend the Board "erred in deciding to deny the appeals and grant [the data center] a [conditional use permit], and acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and contrary to law." They are asking the court to stay the Board's decision and ultimately reverse it.
The opponents claim the appeals process was "rushed" and that potential negative health and environmental impacts were not adequately considered by the Board, which they suggest was influenced by the mayor's office and the developer. Pate described the lawsuit as the "last opportunity" to ensure a proper review of the "massive proposal." The city, represented by a spokeswoman for Mayor Cara Spencer, declined to comment on pending legal matters.
This legal challenge emerges as the St. Louis Board of Aldermen is simultaneously advancing new legislation to develop guidelines for data centers within the city.