Proposed rules would expand oversight of data centers built in St. Louis

The city of St. Louis is moving to implement significant changes to the requirements for data center development, shifting them from their previous classification alongside warehouses and office spaces. Miriam Keller, St. Louis City Planning Executive, announced a proposed framework that would define data centers as 'conditional uses,' necessitating a more rigorous approval process. Under the proposed rules, data center developers would be required to submit detailed applications outlining the building's use and community benefits, along with a third-party environmental impact study. Keller stated that the threshold for what constitutes a 'major' data center project has been lowered, ensuring more projects undergo increased scrutiny. Additionally, every new data center will be mandated to operate on renewable energy within 10 years and comply with stringent standards for electronic recycling and emissions, with annual compliance checks that could lead to permit revocation if problems arise. Keller emphasized that these changes embed minimum standards directly into the zoning code, signaling the city's serious commitment to these priorities.