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Staff: St. Francis zoning does not permit data centers; water/sewer capacity is a likely constraint
Summary
City Administrator Kate told the council St. Francis's current zoning does not allow data centers. She advised that an applicant would first need council-approved rezoning and noted local water and sewer capacity could make hosting a data center infeasible without upgrades; staff offered to return with more information.
City Administrator Kate briefed the council on data centers and St. Francis's current zoning and infrastructure posture. Kate said the city's zoning code does not currently allow data centers; an applicant would need to request placement into an appropriate zoning district and the council would have discretion to approve or deny that rezoning.
Kate highlighted a key constraint: water and sewer capacity. She said some data-center designs use significant water and sewer resources while others have lower water demands or reuse systems; depending on the facility design, St. Francis presently lacks the infrastructure to reliably support a large-scale data center on many parcels. Kate offered to compile additional information for the council on zoning options and capacity implications if the council wishes to pursue the issue further.
No applications had been received and the council took no regulatory action at the June 15 meeting; staff will prepare background materials if council requests them at a future meeting.
