Ozark, Mo., Planning and Zoning unanimously passes recommendation for data center regulations
Ozark, Missouri's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended new regulations for data centers. These proposed rules would require conditional use permits, environmental impact reports, and adherence to noise regulations. The recommendation will now proceed to the City's Board of Aldermen for further hearings and a vote.
The City of Ozark's Planning and Zoning Commission recently passed a unanimous recommendation to implement new regulations specifically targeting potential data center developments. Currently, the city code lacks specific provisions to address the impacts of data centers.
The proposed regulations would mandate that all data centers apply for a conditional use permit, submit an environmental impact report, disclose the building's size and intended use, and comply with noise restrictions. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to the revocation of a conditional use permit. Randall Whitman, the City of Ozark's Community Development Director, emphasized that these regulations would integrate data centers into the city's zoning framework for industrial districts, allowing them after a conditional use permit and public hearings.
Whitman stated that this is a preemptive measure to establish stipulations on any future data center proposals, aiming to safeguard neighborhoods, surrounding properties, and the environment. There are no data center proposals currently pending in Ozark. The recommendation will now advance to the Ozark Board of Aldermen, where it will undergo two hearings and a vote for potential approval.