Proposed St. Louis data center rules clear hurdle as lobbyists groan over ‘ban by another name’
Proposed zoning rules for data centers in St. Louis advanced through a city committee, receiving approval for amendments and unanimous passage. These new regulations, which address size, noise, water, and energy use, are now set for further review by the Planning Commission and final votes by the Board of Aldermen. While environmental groups support the measures, development lobbyists criticize them as overly restrictive and a de facto ban on large-scale data center projects.
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen's Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee has unanimously approved new zoning rules for data centers, marking a significant step in their year-long development. The bill, which includes amendments, will now proceed to the Planning Commission for another vote before heading to the Board of Aldermen for a second reading and final passage, with special meetings scheduled for July 20 and July 24.
Ward 1 Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, who sponsored the bill, clarified that the regulations do not ban data centers but establish conditional use parameters similar to other projects. The rules impose restrictions on factors like data center size, location, noise levels, and water and energy consumption. Supporters, including local environmental groups, lauded the committee's decision, citing a previously approved "Armory data center" project that moved forward without existing regulations.
Conversely, development lobbyists, including David Sweeney of Lewis Rice and Nick Hartzler of Steadfast City, expressed strong opposition. They argue that the proposed rules are excessively stringent, effectively making it impossible to construct large-scale data centers in the city and deterring developers. Sweeney contended that the development community was not adequately consulted, describing the rules as a "ban by another name." A separate bill concerning environmental and reporting requirements for water and energy use is expected to be discussed after the summer recess.