Festus residents file lawsuit in data center battle

Festus residents officially announced on Thursday that they have filed a 54-page, 12-count lawsuit against the City of Festus and data center developer CRG. This legal action, filed in St. Louis County, is the culmination of a months-long battle against the proposed data center, which began in November. The lawsuit asks the courts to invalidate three specific actions: the city's rezoning of seven parcels to authorize industrial use, the infrastructure development and funding agreement, and to restore the parcels to their prior zoning classification, which was either non-urban or residential. City attorney Brian Malone responded to the lawsuit, stating that the City of Festus took all steps required by law to enact regulations for data centers, annex property, rezone property to I-1 industrial, and approve the development agreement. He affirmed that all required notices and public hearings were conducted, and the city will form its response to the petition in due course. CRG has not yet provided a statement.