I wrote about the Faribault City County meeting (Jul 14) earlier; now Hometown Source reports more information on the discussion of …

With data centers popping up across the country and a proposed facility on the horizon for Faribault, the city has decided to pursue the development of performance standards for data centers.

In past discussions about data centers, the city council identified the need for creating performance standards, which are specific requirements related to an allowed use under zoning regulations, for future data centers. Archer Datacenters, the company of the proposed data center in Faribault, also requested that standards be set so they can properly address them in the additional information they have been asked to provide in their environmental study.

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, City Administrator Jessica Kinser said the city has required performance standards before.

The discussion was interesting…

Kinser said the Environmental Commission would be involved in the standard setting process.

Councilor Royal Ross asked if setting performance standards would allow companies to come into the city and build without ever coming before the council.
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Kinser said businesses would need to be required to submit a plat to the city to be approved in order to build. Therefore they would most likely still need council approval.

Councilor John Rowan clarified for the public that the council was not yet setting standards but simply authorizing the development of standards. Kinser confirmed that that was correct.