Planning Commission Votes 4-2 To Add Layers Of Approval For St. Cloud Data Center Projects - 98.1
The St. Cloud Planning Commission voted 4-2 to amend city planning and development rules for large hyperscale data centers. The proposed rules would limit them to business parks on the outskirts, require a quarter-mile separation from homes, and impose multiple approval and review steps before construction.
The St. Cloud Planning Commission voted 4-2 to amend the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to establish new requirements for future large hyperscale data centers. The amendments would allow such facilities only as conditional uses in business parks on the outskirts of the city and require them to be at least a quarter-mile from residential areas.
Future proposals could require environmental reviews, comprehensive plan amendments, conditional-use permits, rezoning and construction permits, along with studies of traffic, noise and impacts on city services. Commissioners Charlie Hobbs and Sabrin Ali opposed the amendments, preferring a data center moratorium. The measure now goes to the St. Cloud City Council, which is expected to hold a second public hearing in November or December.