New data center guidelines under review in Joplin
The Joplin City Council reviewed proposed amendments to the municipal code that would establish new standards and definitions for data centers, restricting them to heavy industrial zones and setting noise limits. Council members voted unanimously to send the ordinance back to Planning and Zoning for further revisions, aiming to incorporate lessons learned from a recent data center summit. This allows for public input and aims to protect citizens regarding future data center developments.
The Joplin City Council has initiated the process of establishing new regulations and guidelines for future data center developments within the city. During a recent meeting, council members were presented with a proposed amendment to the Joplin Municipal Code, which aimed to introduce specific standards and definitions for data centers. Key aspects of the proposed changes included restricting data center construction to heavy industrial zones and implementing specific limits on noise and construction requirements.
However, the council did not proceed with an immediate approval. Instead, they opted to table the ordinance. This decision was influenced by insights gained from a recent Missouri Municipal League and Data Center Summit attended by city staff in Jefferson City. The Planning and Zoning department now intends to integrate these new learnings into the ordinance.
The council ultimately voted unanimously to send the proposed amendment back to Planning and Zoning for further review and modification. This step is intended to ensure the regulations are robust and effectively protect the community. A council member emphasized the importance of getting the standards right the first time to safeguard citizens and allow for public input on any future data center projects, including one potentially at Wildwood.