Data centers, junkers prompt St. Louis County to reconsider ordinance

The St. Louis County Board held a highly attended meeting in White Township, where commissioners voted 6-1 to return a controversial land use ordinance to the county planning commission for further review and likely revision. Commissioner Keith Nelson was the sole dissenting vote. The decision followed a public hearing where dozens of residents spoke against the proposed changes, and opponents presented over 2,600 petition signatures to the commissioners. The St. Louis County news release stated that the planning commission and county staff had been working to update the ordinance for clarity, but public comment indicated more work was needed in two specific areas: rules concerning the storage of six or more inoperable vehicles and the classification of data centers. A date for the planning commissioners to begin this review has not yet been set.