St. Louis County close to finalizing data center regulations
St. Louis County is considering new regulations for data centers in unincorporated areas after receiving more than 200 public comments, including calls for a total ban and stricter energy-efficiency requirements. The Planning Commission postponed its vote to clarify the definition of gross floor area, while proposed rules would increase residential and park setbacks to 500 feet and require cool roofs.
St. Louis County is nearing a vote on regulations governing data centers in unincorporated parts of the county. The Department of Planning received more than 200 written comments, with more than half calling for data centers to be prohibited and others supporting strict regulation and energy-efficiency standards.
The proposed rules would require major data centers—defined in the presentation as facilities of at least 50 megawatts or up to 250,000 square feet—to be located 500 feet from homes and parks, compared with the initially proposed 300-foot setback. They would also require cool roofs rather than merely encourage them. The Planning Commission delayed its vote so planners could further define gross floor area, with the revised proposal expected to return at a future meeting before advancing to the St. Louis County Council.