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St. Charles County approves six-month moratorium on large data centers to study local impacts
Summary
The County Council voted unanimously to adopt a six-month moratorium on large-scale data centers while staff studies impacts on water, power infrastructure, environmental quality and noise. An effort to extend the moratorium to 12 months failed after counsel said state law limits moratoria.
The St. Charles County Council voted 7-0 on July 13 to impose a six-month moratorium on the approval, construction, expansion or operation of certain large-scale data centers within the county.
Councilman Tim Baker said zoning and Unified Development Ordinance updates should incorporate requirements for data centers; Councilman Joe Brazil urged a longer pause. County Executive Steve Ehlmann and Acting County Counselor Rory D'Sullivan cautioned that case law generally limits moratoria to six months, and counsel said the county was following that precedent. "I can't speak for the city's actions, but St. Charles County is following case law," Ehlmann said during the debate.
Councilman Brazil moved to lengthen the moratorium to 12 months; the amendment failed 2-5. After the failed motion, the Council voted to approve the six-month moratorium 7-0. Proponents of the moratorium told the Council they want the county to study potential impacts on public health, water resources, electric utility infrastructure, environmental quality and noise conditions before permitting large projects.
The moratorium does not ban data centers permanently; it temporarily halts approvals to allow staff and elected officials to evaluate regulatory changes. Council members said they could return to extend or modify the moratorium if further legal authority or information justified doing so.
