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.

KTTC reports…

Community members packed a joint local government meeting Wednesday as city leaders, planning and zoning officials, and the economic development commission gathered to discuss proposed restrictions for a potential data center.

While no official development has been confirmed for the area, the city is drafting an ordinance to establish strict parameters should a developer move forward.

Some of the proposed restrictions currently on the table include capping any potential facility’s power usage at 55 megawatts. To put that in perspective, a single megawatt can power between 400 and 1,000 homes, meaning a 55-megawatt cap represents enough energy to power up to 55,000 homes.

Additionally, the ordinance would require facilities to be built at least 500 feet away from any residential area and utilize a specific closed-loop water cooling system to protect local utilities.

To address community worries, city leaders are also looking into requiring a noise report as part of a data center’s annual operational report. This yearly audit would also track the facility’s water and electricity consumption.

In the end…

No official action was taken during tonight’s meeting. The city council has opened a two-week window for residents to submit written comments and feedback. The next public meeting on the draft ordinance is scheduled for August 26.

I know La Crosse is Wisconsin, but it’s Minnesota adjacent. WXOW reports…

A proposal to temporarily halt new data center development in the City of La Crosse is moving forward this week, with city officials set to review the ordinance Monday before a public hearing Wednesday.

If approved, the ordinance would establish an 18-month moratorium on accepting applications and issuing permits for the siting or construction of data centers within the city.

According to the proposed ordinance, the temporary pause would allow the city time to research potential impacts and develop zoning and regulatory standards while it recodifies its zoning code.