Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environmental Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission tables EAW for proposed 500,000-square-foot data center; developer to address public comments
Summary
The Faribault Planning Commission agreed to defer consideration of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed roughly 500,000-square-foot industrial/data center project to allow the developer to respond to public comments; Sam moved to table and Mike seconded. Staff said power agreements are handled by the developer and the provider, not the EAW review.
The Faribault Planning Commission voted on July 7 to table an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a proposed industrial development on the north side industrial park — a project staff described as roughly 500,000 square feet — after the developer asked for more time to respond to public comments.
Eric, a city planning staff member, told commissioners the draft EAW was prepared because projects that reach or exceed 450,000 square feet of industrial/warehouse space trigger state environmental review. "They've already gone through a 30-day public review period," Eric said, and the developer "decided that they're actually going to take some time and dig into some of the comments and questions that were brought up by the public," so staff recommended tabling the item to the July 21 commission meeting.
A commissioner asked how the project would affect power demand and whether the EAW would address utility-provider decisions. Eric replied that power-provider arrangements and supply sit between the developer and the provider and are not within the EAW's local review scope; the EAW does cover municipal impacts such as water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, traffic and on-site stream impacts. The commission moved to defer consideration; Commissioner Sam made the motion, which Commissioner Mike seconded, and the motion carried by voice vote.
The commission recorded that there were no members of the public present for the agenda items requiring public input and then adjourned the regular meeting to proceed to a work session.
