St. Louis aldermen clash over data center zoning. Bill sponsors say amendments ‘weaken’ rules

St. Louis aldermen engaged in a heated debate over proposed zoning regulations for data centers, ultimately approving three amendments to Board Bill 49. These amendments, which some sponsors argue "weaken" the original rules, will now require the bill to return to the city's Planning Commission before a final vote by the Board of Aldermen. The original rules, under development for over a year by the city’s Planning and Urban Design Agency, aimed to set development locations and establish renewable energy targets.

A primary point of contention was an amendment proposed by Ward 2 Alderman Tom Oldenburg, which allows data center developers to seek waivers from the city’s Board of Public Service to delay meeting a 10-year 100% renewable energy requirement or to be exempted from some restrictions on purchasing renewable energy certificates. Oldenburg stated this was a compromise supported by Mayor Cara Spencer and Aldermanic President Megan Green, sought by the business community. Ward 1 Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer and Ward 7 Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, who initiated the bill, strongly opposed this, arguing it creates an "off-ramp" for developers to avoid renewable energy goals.

Further amendments, successfully proposed by Ward 8 Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi, include allowing some downtown buildings to exceed a 30% ground-floor use cap if they sign a community benefit agreement, and exempting medical school campuses from small data center location restrictions. Ward 9 Alderman Michael Browning joined Schweitzer and Sonnier in dissenting, expressing concern that the board was "watering down" the bill and prioritizing data centers over housing needs. The city Planning Commission's next meeting for reconsideration of the bill has not yet been scheduled.