Inforum reports…

A West Fargo nonprofit group will host a community discussion, “If a data center knocks: What should West Fargo do?” on Thursday, Sept. 17, as part of its Fire Hall Chat series.

Civic West is a nonprofit group created to share information and increase civic engagement among West Fargo residents.

At the September discussion, the organization hopes to give residents the chance to learn about data centers and provide their input to city officials before they make any decisions regarding data centers, according to a press release.

The discussion will begin at 7 p.m., and will take place at the West Fargo Fire Department headquarters, 1201 10th Ave. E. It is free and open to the public.

Northfield News reports…

On the topic of data centers, Northfield residents made clear Thursday that their voices would be heard — and, more specifically, their hands.

About two hours after Planning Commission Chair Bill Kuhlmann gave up trying to hold back applause from an audience that filled the council chamber and two overflow rooms, the Northfield Planning Commission moved toward banning hyperscale data centers, directing staff to formulate a model for the ban based on power consumption.

The second agenda item began as a request from staff to address what was described as a “typo” or “error” in the Land Development Code surrounding data processing facilities, or data centers. Specifically, a setback of 3,950 feet from planned parks, trails or other recreational features was recommended to be changed to a 200-foot setback. The 3,950-foot setback meant it was effectively impossible for any data center to be proposed.

The article highlights many of the public and elected officials speeches…

The decision comes as the city of Northfield has worked to attract industrial development to its Northwest Industrial Park, which it advertises on the city webpage as “a prime data center and industrial development opportunity.” One of the city’s main strategic priorities as of late has been to diversify its tax revenue, focusing largely on industrial development in the northwest park.

Mathias Hughey, the city planner, also noted the city’s strict environmental regulations that would still apply to any proposed development. Once Kuhlmann opened the floor to public comment on the topic, residents made it clear they weren’t budging on the matter.

In the end…

The motion, which would recommend to City Council that the city list data-processing facilities as a prohibited use in Northfield, passed unanimously.

KYMN reports…

The Northfield Planning Commission will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposed zoning amendment that would dramatically reduce the required setback for data processing facilities, commonly known as data centers, from 3,950 feet to 200 feet from existing or planned parks, trails and recreational features.

The proposal has drawn attention as data centers have become a controversial issue nationwide, with critics raising concerns about energy consumption, water use and, in some communities, development agreements negotiated behind closed doors.

City officials, however, say the amendment is not connected to any pending data center project.

“This is really part of the city’s regular review and housekeeping of our zoning ordinance,” City Administrator Ben Martig said during a recent interview.

According to Martig, the city adopted extensive standards for data processing facilities several years ago after a public review process. Those regulations addressed issues such as noise, energy use, visual impacts and compatibility with surrounding properties. Staff later concluded that the nearly 4,000-foot setback requirement from parks and trails appeared to be a drafting error and lacked any engineering, environmental or operational basis.

Under the proposed amendment, the setback would be reduced to 200 feet, matching the distance already required from residential properties.

Martig said the existing standard effectively makes development difficult because trails and recreational features are often located near industrial areas. The amendment is one of several zoning “housekeeping” changes currently under review, including revisions to industrial block length requirements.

North Loop Neighborhood Association (Mpls) reports…

This week, the North Loop Neighborhood Association (NLNA), in partnership with the U of M’s Minnesota Design Center, is hosting community workshops to gather community input about the proposed data center + multi-use development at the former Star Tribune printing facility.

In advance of those workshops, the NLNA asked the potential buyer, Legacy Investing, for an interview about their plans and experience with data centers. The NLNA has not yet taken a position on the proposed development, but wanted to hear from the developer firsthand.

Here are the questions they ask (visit article for answers):

• Why here?
• Who’s the data center for?
• How large will the data center be?
• How do you address concerns about water use for cooling?
• What about noise?
• What about additional pressure to our power grid?
• Why can’t the building be converted to some other use?
• This property is zoned for “production mixed use.” If the former printing press is converted to a data center, what are your plans for the rest of the land?

This is all in preparation for upcoming community meetings…

The community workshops take place August 17, 18 and 20 from 6 to 8pm at Itasca Event Gallery, located in the back of Itasca Wine & Spirits at 706 N. 1st St. The workshops will be facilitated by faculty, graduate students and support staff from the U’s Minnesota Design Center (MDC), in an effort to thoughtfully share ideas on how to develop this large area.

MDC facilitators will summarize the week’s work into a Report to the Community, and present it to the neighborhood on Saturday, August 22 from 1 to 2:30pm at Fulton Taproom, 414 6th Ave. N. The report will also be shared with the developer and City leaders.