St. Cloud City Council Sets November 16th Public Hearing on Data Center Rules
The St. Cloud City Council voted unanimously to hold a Nov. 16 public hearing on proposed rules governing future data centers. The proposed standards would address zoning, noise, energy use, environmental impacts, community effects and facility decommissioning, although no specific data center project has been proposed.
The St. Cloud City Council voted 5-0 to schedule a Nov. 16 public hearing on proposed data center regulations. Council Member Tami Calhoun said the city should establish standards proactively because its current planning code does not specifically address data centers.
The proposal would allow smaller enterprise facilities by right in certain commercial districts and require larger hyperscale facilities to obtain a conditional use permit in the I3 planned industrial district, with a quarter-mile buffer from residential zoning. Applicants would also need to provide studies covering noise, environmental and community impacts, backup power, sustainability and decommissioning. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposal in a 4-2 vote, while Pipefitters Local 539 supported clear and objective standards for responsible development.