Columbia Planning & Zoning data center regulation debate continues

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission talked standards and regulations for possible data centers at Thursday night's work session.

Commission members will discuss “broader” topic areas that they want to include in a working draft of the regulations and standards that would govern data centers in Columbia.

"This is the process of then deciding if we allow them, how are we going to allow them, where and under what parameters, all of that kind of stuff," said Commission Chair Sharon Geuea Jones. "Tonight's really a level setting kind of discussion where we're all saying, this is what we hope to achieve and what our expectations are."

The building and inclusion of data centers have been highly contested around the country, including in Mid-Missouri.

Amazon has sought to build a data center in Montgomery County, but faced intense pushback from residents at several public meetings, culminating in a lawsuit aimed at blocking the project. Critics of data centers often cite excessive water usage and increased electricity consumption.

During the April 6 Columbia City Council meeting, the definition of “data center” and its placement within the city's zoning structure was approved. During this same meeting, a request to have an ordinance prepared establishing a 12-month “administrative delay” on permits for data centers was introduced.

That administrative delay request was stretched from six months to a year before it was introduced at the council meeting. The city believes the lengthened delay period will permit staff and the community to examine standards relating to this topic. The vote to approve it will happen at the May 18th council meeting.

A public comment will follow before city staff craft regulations.

City staff have found that "utilization of water utility" and "utilization of electric utility" are the most important issues to community members in the data center discussion. Those two topics would also require the most collaboration across City departments.

Other topics to be discussed include siting of structures, parking requirements, decommissioning and remediation and lighting and noise requirements.

Staff estimates the public comment will be between 45 and 60 days.