Proposed data center zoning in St. Louis County stirs concern

St. Louis County is considering amendments to its zoning ordinance that would identify data centers as a potentially appropriate land use in some industrial areas. This has stirred concern among residents, who are asking the county to place stricter regulations and limits on data center development. Commissioner Ashley Grimm favors restricting data centers to land zoned as Industrial Class III, citing residents' worries about living near the facilities. Residents Allison Hafften and Emma Richtman argued the ordinance should better define and distinguish between small-scale and "hyper-scale" data centers, which can have greater impacts on the surrounding community. Grimm sought to indefinitely table the ordinance to allow for more public input, but her motion failed. The county plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning changes, which some officials say will provide an opportunity for further amendments.