Planning Commission Votes 4-2 To Add Layers Of Approval For St. Cloud Data Center Projects
The St. Cloud Planning Commission voted 4-2 to amend city planning and land-use rules for future hyperscale data centers. The proposed regulations would limit such facilities to designated business parks away from homes and require multiple reviews and approvals before construction.
The St. Cloud Planning Commission voted 4-2 to amend the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to establish new requirements for future hyperscale data centers. The amendments would limit large facilities to conditional-use locations in business parks on the city’s outskirts, at least a quarter-mile from residential areas.
Future proposals would face multiple approval steps, potentially including environmental review, a comprehensive plan amendment, a conditional-use permit, rezoning and construction permits. City officials could also require information on traffic, noise and impacts on municipal services. Commissioners Charlie Hobbs and Sabrin Ali opposed the amendments, preferring a data center moratorium. The proposal now moves to the St. Cloud City Council for another public hearing, expected in November or December.