Kirksville commission sends data center zoning rules to City Council
The Kirksville Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended new municipal code restrictions for data centers after nearly three hours of public testimony. These proposed amendments, which include limits on location, height, setbacks, and operational requirements, aim to regulate potential data center development within the city. The recommendation will now proceed to the City Council for further review and expected action.
The Kirksville Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend new municipal code restrictions for data center construction within the city, following extensive public testimony and deliberation. These amendments, capping months of public concern over energy-intensive computing facilities, define where and how data centers can be built in Kirksville.
The proposed ordinance would allow data centers only in M-2 heavy industrial districts with a non-transferable special use permit. Building height would be capped at 75 feet, with significant setbacks and a 500-foot buffer from residential areas. The commission noted the city's only M-2 district has limited realistic development space. The recommendation will now go to a City Council study session on October 19, with a vote expected on October 26.
Public comment focused heavily on environmental risks, including water usage for cooling, potential contamination from spills, and noise concerns from cooling fans and generators. Residents also questioned the absence of a moratorium, citing similar actions in St. Charles County and Ralls County. Commissioners and staff argued that a moratorium would not solve the underlying regulatory gap and that a total prohibition could expose the city to legal liability. Other concerns raised included potential increases in power costs for ratepayers, the impact on housing, and the risk of development moving to unzoned areas of Adair County.
Key amendments adopted by the commission include an explicit prohibition on data centers larger than 250,000 square feet, requirements for waste disposal documentation, annual reporting with independent review, and pre-application public meetings for all proposed data centers. The ordinance also bars city-led tax incentives, mandates an energy consumption and grid impact study, requires water-efficient cooling, limits generator testing hours, sets strict noise limits, and demands a decommissioning plan backed by a financial guarantee.