Waite Park Weighs Data Center Moratorium, New Assessment Policy
News ClipKNSI·Waite Park, Stearns County, MN·3/13/2026
The Waite Park City Council is considering a temporary moratorium on data center development to research and draft appropriate regulations. This comes after the city discovered it has no existing ordinances governing data centers and their potential demands on city resources like electricity and water. The council is also discussing a formal assessment policy for infrastructure improvements to bring consistency to how residents are charged for projects like street, utility, and storm sewer work.
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Gov: Waite Park City Council
The Waite Park City Council is considering a temporary moratorium on data center development to research and draft appropriate regulations. Data centers have become a target for tech industry expansion, drawing concerns from communities about their heavy demands on resources. The council is also pushing for a formal assessment policy to bring consistency to how residents are charged for infrastructure improvements. Recent discussions around 2026 improvement projects have prompted this move. The council will also receive updates on proposed state legislation that could expand multi-family housing.