City seeking answers about proposed Pickett Road data center project
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- City leaders said they are still working to answer questions regarding a proposed data center project on Pickett Road.
In a news release, the City of St. Joseph said that, along with residents, it and elected officials also have questions regarding the project.
While data centers can vary in their design operations, resource demands and community impacts, the City said it is looking at reviewing the facts and technical details specific to the proposal as they become available.
KQ2 previously reported that there are five main types of data centers: Hyperscale, Colocation, Enterprise, Edge and Cloud. Each serves a different purpose.
The City said the project developer, Atmosphere Data Centers, has indicated that additional details addressing questions will be provided within the next two weeks.
Residents have raised questions about the types of cooling systems that would be used, how much water the facility would require and whether wastewater generated by the operation could cause pollutants and how that would be managed.
Additionally, the facility's energy needs, the cost of infrastructure improvements or potential rate impacts, the use of backup battery systems and safety considerations have also been called into question.
The City also provided a timeline about its knowledge of the consideration of the data center at 6321 Pickett Road, which dates back to March 2026.
KQ2 also previously reported that the request for the STJ Data Center LLC came to State Secretary Denny Hoskins' office in February of 2025 and was approved.
In March 2026, former Mayor John Josendale sent a letter to the property owner, Capstone Technology Campus, regarding the potential development. The letter was a response to an inquiry the mayor received about the possible rezoning of the property.
On April 3, Capstone submitted a petition requesting voluntary annexation of the property. The City published a notice of a public hearing on the annexation request in the St. Joseph News-Press on May 15, which is consistent with the requirements of applicable notice requirements.
The City held the public hearing on the annexation request on May 26 during its regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
On June 3, Capstone submitted an application seeking the rezoning of the property, but withdrew the request on June 4.
On June 9, Capstone submitted an amended rezoning application seeking rezoning of both 6321 Pickett Road and 5701 Pickett Road for the proposed development.
The City Council work session is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Monday, June 22, but will not include the proposed data center on its agenda.
A Town Hall-style meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, at the Missouri Theater, located at 717 Edmond St., will provide residents, City staff and elected officials a chance to hear directly from the developer and ask questions.
According to a news release from the City, no decisions have been made regarding the proposed data center, and the St. Joseph City Council has not held any work sessions or meetings, open or closed, to discuss the project.
Additionally, no tax abatements or non-disclosure agreements have been requested or offered in connection with the proposal.
The City said it will share verified information as answers are received from the developer, utility providers and other relevant entities.
