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Council delays EIS decision for Archer Data campus, orders development of data‑center standards
Summary
The Faribault City Council voted July 14 to postpone deciding whether a discretionary environmental impact statement is required for Archer Data's proposed campus and directed staff to develop performance standards for data centers with environmental commission involvement; the council set an EAW update deadline of March 31, 2027.
The Faribault City Council voted on July 14 to delay a final decision on whether a discretionary environmental impact statement is required for Archer Data's proposed campus on the Faribault site and authorized staff to develop performance standards for data centers.
City staff member Jessica Kinzer told the council the action follows a Court of Appeals ruling and presents three options; the council chose a path that allows Archer Data until March 31, 2027 to update its Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). Kinzer said the council's decision "will essentially resolve the litigation, and the resolution tonight would be filed with the Court of Appeals" and that the updated EAW will be subject to third‑party review and further council consideration in 2027.
Why it matters: council members and public commenters raised questions about long‑term environmental, water‑use and fiscal impacts of large data centers. Resident Karen Zeller, who spoke during public comment, urged a moratorium and warned of risks to the Jordan Aquifer and other environmental harms, saying, "I really feel a moratorium, 2 year moratorium is important" and asking who would pay long‑term maintenance costs if facilities become obsolete.
Council debate focused on process and oversight. One council member noted a statutory limit on moratoria and said a two‑year moratorium is not permitted by law; staff confirmed a one‑year moratorium would be the legal limit. Members also asked whether adopting performance standards could allow some data‑center projects to proceed without returning to the council, and staff explained that the standards would be developed through the planning commission process, public work sessions and hearings before any adoption.
The council also directed that the environmental commission be part of the process to draft the standards. Council members emphasized that the development of standards is an authorization to begin drafting them, not an immediate change to zoning or permitting rules. Staff said site platting and other statutorily required planning steps would still apply to new developments.
Next steps: Archer Data must provide the updated EAW by March 31, 2027 for third‑party review; staff will work with the planning commission and the environmental commission and return with recommendations to the council for any formal adoption of performance standards.
