Data debate at St. Charles City Council meeting; St. Louis updates data center regulations proposal

Two communities in Missouri are actively addressing data center development through new regulations. The St. Charles City Council recently introduced legislation to define data centers and amend warehouse definitions, contemplating a potential ban on large-scale data center projects within its limits. Simultaneously, the City of St. Louis has released an updated proposal for data center regulations, which officials describe as a more cautious and detailed approach than previous drafts. These proposed requirements would restrict new data center projects to a single industrial zoning district, thereby making downtown, midtown, and residential areas off-limits for future developments. Furthermore, the regulations would mandate developers to prevent negative impacts on the city's water system and enforce operational restrictions on certain days and times to safeguard the environment. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen must still approve these new zoning rules, with a public meeting scheduled for May 18th to discuss the proposal.