Franklin County to discuss rezoning for potential data centers

The Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in Missouri is set to meet again to consider rezoning two substantial land parcels, totaling over 1,000 acres, for two proposed data centers. The sites are located at Crooked Creek, four miles south of Pacific, and Diamond Farms in Villa Ridge, near the Shaw Nature Reserve. This meeting follows a lengthy, nearly 11-hour session on March 17 at Union High School, where hundreds of residents primarily voiced opposition to the projects. Concerns raised by opponents include increased noise, high water consumption, potential environmental impacts on wildlife, and a decline in residents' quality of life. Conversely, proponents of the data centers highlight the significant economic development they could bring to Franklin County through increased tax revenue and job creation. While the Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to revisit the rezoning proposals at Tuesday's meeting, the final approval for the data centers would rest with the broader Franklin County Commission, with a vote anticipated next month.