Sioux Falls council rezones land for Gemini data center; preliminary plan approved after water-use amendment

Sioux Falls — The Sioux Falls City Council on Jan. 6 approved a rezoning request for a proposed Gemini data center campus and, after initial resistance and a subsequent amendment, approved the project's preliminary subdivision plan.

The council unanimously approved the rezoning ordinance for the Gemini site (Item 33) following presentations from planning and public works staff and extensive public comment. The vote on the rezoning was recorded as 7–0.

The matter drew a long public comment period focused on water and energy use, noise, local economic benefits and developer transparency. “This facility is projected to more than double our entire city's energy consumption,” said Kelsey Hart, a Sioux Falls resident, urging the council to vote no. Other residents cited examples from other states alleging higher electricity bills, large water withdrawals and limited long-term local jobs.

Supporters argued the council’s role at the hearing stage was to judge land use, not operational details. Bob Muntin, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, told the council the rezoning was one step in a larger process and said the applicants were following city…