St. Joseph City Council pauses data center applications, seeks zoning update

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph City Council decided to seek outside help to update the city's zoning code and will also stop accepting new data center applications.

The decision came during Monday's City Council Work Session.

The council recognized that data centers are an important issue for the community and decided to have a work session to address the issue after many residents had expressed concerns during previous city council meetings.

During the meeting, council member Gary Wilkinson said the public will be part of the process, and with the rezoning application withdrawn for a proposed data center on 6321 Pickett Road, the council now has more time to study the issue.

"Come up with a proactive approach that fits our community," he said. "Do we have adequate zoning regulations currently in effect to address this issue? What has been the effect of data centers currently operating in the terms of the environmental impact? Until I have a better handle on these issues, I'm not prepared to say if I'm in support or opposed to a specific proposal."

Council member Randy Schultz said the city needs to have guardrails when it comes to the data center.

"Doesn't eat up our resources, it doesn't cost our taxpayers an absorbent amount of money. We need to protect our citizens," he said.

Council member Madison Davis said it's important to take time to digest the opportunity and the cost.

"If we can get someone that has experience in data centers, and the costs that sometimes come with it. As well as the benefits that sometimes come from it, and can advise us and help us and the citizens so that we have a code of zoning that we are all happy with," he said.

Mayor Larry Miller suggested that the council should go to another community and see a data center.

"We should know all of this before we consider anything and talk to some of the people around there, see how they feel about it," he said. "That's only right for the citizens of St. Joe."

During the meeting, many council members agree a condition-based approach would be best when it comes to data centers. Council member Randy Schultz explained what the process could potentially look like.

"What I would imagine that we get the request of proposal, and we work with them to make sure that we get our zoning in a place where we can actually adjudicate an application fairly, and with all the considerations we need to for this kind of development," he said.

The council agreed not to accept any more data center applications until zoning codes are updated.