Franklin County data center projects return to planning commission Tuesday

Two proposed data center projects in Franklin County, Missouri are back up for debate at the county's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday. One project is planned off Interstate 44 near the town of Richwoods, while the other is located south of Pacific. Both were previously under consideration by the commission, but one was tabled for six months in January. However, the developer has now brought the project back before the commission, creating frustration among some community members. Local residents, including a multi-generation family farm, are opposing the data center proposals. They are concerned about the potential impact on water usage, electricity costs, and their rural way of life. The family farm has been in operation for seven generations, and the owners say they were shocked to learn of the data center plans next door. During the previous review, the planning commission considered a rezoning request for one of the projects, known as the Digital Campus, but ultimately put it on pause. In a letter to the county, the developer has now stated they are "fully committed" to a project design that will ensure no impact on sensitive neighbors, with large buffers and no increase in noise or light. However, the farm family says there is nothing the company could say or do to change their opposition to the data centers. With the projects back before the commission, the residents plan to attend Tuesday's meeting to voice their concerns about the potential disruption to their community and rural way of life.