Kansas City just changed its zoning to make data centers harder to build

Kansas City has passed a new zoning change that limits where data centers can be built and adds new restrictions. The change classifies data centers into two categories - smaller ones under 500,000 square feet, and larger "hyperscale" facilities. Smaller data centers will require special approval, and all data centers will be prohibited in certain zones without rezoning. The change aims to give residents more say over data center development, which has faced criticism from community groups concerned about their environmental impact and use of public resources. Some city council members want to explore further restrictions on water, energy use, and tax incentives for data centers.