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Pacific aldermen push for moratorium and more oversight as data-center debate continues
Summary
Residents urged action on BeltLine/McLaren data-center applications; the Board directed staff to pursue a 12-month text amendment moratorium on data centers, asked the city attorney to research delinquent-payment authority, and directed staff to send certified invoices to applicants while coordinating with Planning & Zoning.
Residents pressed the Pacific Board of Aldermen on June 2 to force clarity and accountability on a proposed BeltLine/McLaren data-center rezoning, and the board moved to pursue a temporary moratorium as it seeks new rules.
Patrick Shannon Corbett, who requested time to place a resolution on the agenda, told aldermen the city has spent money while BeltLine “has unresolved obligations,” including an unpaid invoice that remains outstanding 97 days after it was raised. “This board has both a fiduciary and governance obligation to act rather than let the matter linger,” Corbett said, asking the board to urge Planning & Zoning to set a public hearing date as soon as possible.
Other residents echoed the call. Jessica Nicodemo cited a June 1 Missouri news report that many cities are pausing or limiting data-center approvals amid concerns about electricity use, local nuisance impacts and the adequacy of incentives. Val Droge, representing the Tri-County Community Senior Center, and several others also urged the city not to lose focus on local services during the dispute.
After discussion, the board directed the city attorney to draft a text amendment that would impose a 12-month moratorium on data-center applications while the city develops regulations. Attorney guidance noted a moratorium would be a zoning text amendment and would not affect currently pending applications; aldermen nevertheless said they wanted time to write rules and clarify authority.
The board also asked the city administrator to investigate rescheduling the Planning & Zoning public hearing on BeltLine, and directed staff to send certified invoices and follow-up letters to the applicants on file to confirm their intentions and outstanding payments. Planning & Zoning counsel and the city attorney told the board the city cannot unilaterally withhold processing of a pending application on account of unpaid review invoices unless an appropriate ordinance is in place; the board instructed attorneys to check existing code and prepare draft legislation if needed.
The actions leave the existing P&Z process intact for the moment: one motion to have the Board directly order P&Z to resume hearings failed after the city attorney advised such direction would be improper. The next steps are a draft moratorium text for aldermanic review, certified-letter follow-up to applicants, and additional legal review of delinquent-payment authority.
