Joplin council seeks stronger safeguards before approving data center rules

The Joplin City Council in Missouri unanimously voted to delay action on a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating future data center developments, opting instead to send the measure back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for further revisions. The 9-0 vote on Monday night followed a public hearing where city staff recommended additional time to integrate insights from a recent Missouri Municipal League data center workshop and feedback from residents and stakeholders.

City officials, including City Manager Nick Edwards and Development Director Troy Bolander, stated the ordinance's purpose is to establish specific standards to mitigate impacts on neighborhoods, infrastructure, and natural resources. Key proposals include requiring data centers to obtain special use permits in heavy industrial zones, rather than being allowed by right, and incorporating best practices such as setbacks, landscaping buffers, noise limits, lighting controls, and air pollution standards. The ordinance would also encourage closed-loop cooling systems to reduce water consumption and require developers to ensure utility improvements do not increase base rates for existing customers.

Council members raised concerns about enforcement, future expansions, and the revocability of special use permits for non-compliance. Council member Chuck Copple even suggested a temporary moratorium on new data center permits, though this idea did not progress. Rebecca Collins of the Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance urged support for the delay, emphasizing the need for comprehensive regulations to protect community resources and provide certainty for developers. The revised ordinance is anticipated to return to the Planning and Zoning Commission later this month, with a potential City Council review in August.