Waite Park to propose year-long data center moratorium

The Waite Park City Council is set to review a proposed year-long moratorium on data center development during its May 4 meeting. The draft ordinance, intended to safeguard the city's planning process and residents' health, safety, and welfare, highlights significant concerns regarding the environmental impact of these facilities. Specifically, the city is wary of data centers' potential for high water consumption, which could strain the public water system, and adverse effects on neighboring properties due to noise and environmental factors. The ordinance would temporarily bar the issuance of conditional use and building permits for "telecommunications facilities" in designated industrial and corridor districts, as well as prohibit associated service structures like electric power substations. Currently, Waite Park has not received any proposals for data center facilities. The city's move mirrors actions in other nearby municipalities, such as Sartell, which has already implemented provisions requiring conditional use permits and public hearings for data center approvals. The proposed moratorium, however, would exempt small, unoccupied telecommunications buildings under 300 square feet that do not require water.