St. Charles County council enacts six-month moratorium on large-scale data centers

The St. Charles County Council on July 13 approved a six-month moratorium on the approval, construction, expansion or operation of certain large-scale data centers to give officials time to study potential impacts on public health, water resources, electric utility infrastructure, environmental quality and noise.

Supporters of the moratorium said the county needs time to consider utility and water-supply consequences and to write regulations as part of a broader update to the Uniform Development Ordinance. Councilman Baker said the moratorium will ensure any future projects receive full public review, while Councilman Swanson and other members emphasized caution when zoning could allow such facilities to appear without the council's immediate knowledge.

Residents who spoke during public comment pressed for stronger limits. Kara Elms, a volunteer who helped lead the city of St. Charles' effort against data centers, told the council, "This bill seems to focus on public health and welfare," and urged wide public participation and technical input from utilities and state environmental agencies. Theresa Lincevic warned of large electricity and water demands, calling such facilities "environmental disasters in disguise." Opponents and supporters debated the length of the pause; some councilmembers proposed 12 months, but the county attorney advised that case law limits moratoria to six months at a time.

On a roll call following discussion, the council voted to pass the six-month moratorium. The ordinance directs staff to study utilities, water use, noise, and environmental effects and to return recommendations to the council during or after the moratorium period.

The moratorium does not prohibit already-permitted uses that comply with current zoning; it temporarily bars approvals of the specific large-scale data-center category identified in the ordinance while the county conducts its review.