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Residents urge moratorium after data centers permitted under M2 zoning
Summary
Public commenters told the Joplin City Council that data centers were effectively allowed in M2 zoning without public discussion, and asked the council to halt new applications until the city adopts data-center-specific code and completes electric-feasibility and environmental studies.
Marla LePage and other residents told the Joplin City Council on May 2 that the city has effectively opened the door to data centers by treating M2 heavy-industrial zoning as an allowable location for such facilities without a public process to set rules specific to data centers.
LePage said she believes a decision was made ‘‘to place data centers in M2’’ without public input and that the city’s form-based code (Appendix 29A) addresses aesthetics but not infrastructure needs such as electricity and water. ‘‘Does Appendix 29A address inadequate electricity supply or generation of electricity? Nope,’’ she said, adding that Joplin lacks code language that other Missouri cities have adopted to regulate data centers.
LePage asked the council to impose a moratorium on data-center applications and construction until city code includes specific regulations, an electric-utility feasibility study is complete (which staff had postponed to September), and an independent environmental-impact study is conducted. ‘‘We have not done that. So we’re inviting any data centers to come in and we won’t be able to tell them no,’’ she said.
Chris Hammer later addressed the council during new business, urging elected officials to weigh the broader economic implications of such projects. ‘‘At best, a data center is a job replacer. It’s a job killer,’’ Hammer said, arguing the projects would not deliver the local jobs or community benefits residents expect.
City staff did not take immediate action on the moratorium request during the meeting. Mr. Bolander, the staff member who presented a separate rezoning case earlier, recommended that members of the public seeking detailed staff answers contact his office directly. Council members acknowledged the concerns and scheduled follow-up meetings with petitioners and staff.
What happens next: Petitioners asked for a timeline, staff analysis, and a moratorium; council members indicated they would meet with residents and staff to discuss the concerns but did not adopt new regulations or a moratorium on May 2.
