St. Louis planner now says no 'direct' communication with official on data center vote
St. Louis aldermen rejected a proposal to halt new data center permits until updated zoning rules could be implemented. This decision followed an earlier chaotic meeting where the Planning Commission's vote on proposed data center regulations was derailed, with the planning chief stating no direct communication occurred with officials.
On February 13, 2026, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted down a proposal to suspend permit approvals for new data centers. This measure aimed to temporarily halt development until new zoning regulations specific to data centers could be enacted. Data center opponents were present in the gallery during the vote. The aldermen's decision came after an earlier chaotic meeting in February derailed the St. Louis Planning Commission's vote on the proposed data center regulations. Following this, the Mayor's Office released a statement from Planning and Urban Design Executive Director Don Roe, clarifying that he had no "direct communications" with any elected officials during the contentious Planning Commission meeting.