St. Joseph City Council to vote on data center pause, Benton High School parking expansion
The St. Joseph City Council is scheduled to vote on an emergency ordinance that would temporarily pause new data center projects. This proposal follows a council work session where officials reviewed existing zoning and land use policies for data centers and agreed to update the city's zoning code.
The St. Joseph City Council is set to vote on several key items at its upcoming Monday night meeting, including an emergency ordinance to temporarily pause new data center projects.
This proposed ordinance directs the City Manager to address the unique characteristics, demands, and impacts associated with data center construction and development. The initiative stems from a July 13 council work session during which city officials reviewed current zoning and land use policies for data centers. During that session, council members decided to seek external assistance to update the city's zoning code and committed to halting the acceptance of new data center applications until these updates are complete.
In addition to the data center pause, the council will also consider a request from the St. Joseph School District to add 55 new parking spaces near Benton High School to accommodate an increased student population. They will also vote on affirming the purchase of security cameras for Felix Street Square, a project costing over $59,000, funded by Riverbluff ARP funds and provided by All Systems Go, aimed at deterring crime and improving public safety.