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Residents urge Franklin County commissioners to reject rezoning for proposed data centers
Summary
Dozens of Franklin County residents told commissioners they oppose two proposed hyperscale data centers near the McLaren property and Shaw Nature Reserve, citing water use, noise, wildlife impacts and a lack of transparency; the commission approved six unrelated consent items before hearing public comment.
At a meeting of the Franklin County Commission, dozens of residents urged commissioners to reject rezoning requests for two proposed hyperscale data centers, saying the projects threaten local water supplies, wildlife habitat and neighborhood livability.
Laura Watson Itman, who lives adjacent to the McLaren property near the Crooked Creek data center, told the commission the facilities "don't belong in an agricultural tract near our homes and schools" and pleaded with commissioners to "vote no." Nancy Watson, another neighbor, read from a recent Economist article and warned one site could demand about a gigawatt of power, amplifying concerns about water, noise and light pollution.
The public-comment portion of the meeting—long and often emotional—centered on a set of recurring complaints: large and uncertain water demands, continuous operational noise and light, risks to nearby conserved land such as the Shaw Nature Reserve, and what residents called inadequate transparency from developers and local officials. Gene Elkins, a trustee for a neighborhood association, said he heard conflicting figures about water needs—citing an earlier claim of 1,400,000 gallons per day and later public statements that the project would need only 20,000 gallons— and urged commissioners to press developers for consistent data.
Other speakers pressed for independent technical review and stricter permitting. Karen Fuse asked the commission to hire outside experts and to explain who would pay for any additional fire protection; she pointed to a recent silicone-plant fire and asked whether local emergency services could cover a large new industrial site. Travis Layton of Jefferson County supplied materials including an acoustic-engineer contact and alleged developers have used shell companies and nontransparent permitting practices; he also said high-level company representatives held a closed meeting in another city, an occurrence he tied to state open-meetings law as a matter of concern for local oversight.
Several speakers asked for a moratorium. Linda Carr said residents had submitted about 1,500 pages of technical material and asked the commission for a one-year pause to complete environmental-impact assessments. Twyl Ashworth framed the choice as a defense of rural life and property values, urging the board to prioritize agricultural land and put large facilities in existing industrial parks instead.
Commissioners did not take action on rezoning at the meeting. Before public comment began, the commission approved a set of routine consent items, including commission orders 2026-174 (vacation petition for Graysom Holdings LLC), 2026-175 (a memorandum of understanding with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Franklin County Health Department), 2026-176 (road naming of Hidden Valley Lane), 2026-177 (IT purchase for county access), 2026-178 (awarded highway bid) and 2026-179 (equipment specialist/decommissioning bids). Each was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
There were sharp differences in the content and tone of the comments but little developer or staff response recorded during the public-comment period. Residents repeatedly asked for town halls, a dedicated online project page, and clearer disclosure about who is negotiating with county officials. Will, a commenter who asked the commission to improve public engagement, also cited a recent Department of Energy emergency order and urged rules to prioritize electricity to homes rather than large data centers during extreme weather.
The meeting closed without a decision on rezoning; commissioners adjourned after routine business. Residents left the meeting urging further scrutiny and more public forums.
Votes at a glance
- Commission order 2026-174 (vacation petition for Graysom Holdings LLC): approved by voice vote. - Commission order 2026-175 (memorandum of understanding with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Franklin County Health Department): approved by voice vote. - Commission order 2026-176 (road naming: Hidden Valley Lane): approved by voice vote. - Commission order 2026-177 (purchase for Franklin County IT conditional access): approved by voice vote. - Commission order 2026-178 (highway department bid award for Traprock and related work): approved by voice vote. - Commission order 2026-179 (equipment specialist / emergency-vehicle decommissioning bids): approved by voice vote.
What happens next
Speakers asked the commission to hold public town halls, publish clear project materials online and require independent technical reviews before any rezoning or permit decisions. The commission adjourned; no rezoning vote occurred at this meeting.
