Joplin council seeks stronger safeguards before approving data center rules

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin City Council unanimously voted Monday night to delay action on a proposed ordinance regulating future data centers, sending the measure back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for additional revisions after city staff said new information and public feedback could further strengthen the proposal.

The council voted 9-0 to table the ordinance following a public hearing, with staff recommending additional time to incorporate recommendations from a recent Missouri Municipal League data center workshop in Jefferson City and comments received from residents and stakeholders.

City officials said the proposed ordinance is designed to establish specific standards for future data centers in Joplin to minimize impacts on nearby neighborhoods, infrastructure and natural resources.

The regulations would require data centers to obtain a special use permit rather than being allowed by right in heavy industrial zoning districts.

Planning staff said the draft ordinance already addresses many of the best practices recommended by industry experts, including requirements for setbacks, landscaping buffers, noise limits, lighting controls, air pollution standards, sustainability measures and utility infrastructure planning.

City Manager Nick Edwards and Development Director Troy Bolander credited City Planner Tyler Bellers and former planning intern Luke Wood for researching ordinances from communities across the country. Bolander also recognized the Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance for assisting with research.

Bolander said staff wanted to refine the ordinance after attending a workshop featuring officials from Loudoun County, Virginia, which has the highest concentration of data centers in the world.

"We feel that the ordinance can be tweaked a little bit more to make it even better," Bolander told the council.

Among the revisions staff plans to consider are clarifying standards for accessory structures such as guard shacks, strengthening pollution requirements, adding provisions addressing wastewater and incorporating more efficient generator standards discussed during the state workshop.

Planning staff also proposed requiring developers to demonstrate that utility infrastructure improvements associated with a project would not increase base utility rates for existing customers. The ordinance would also encourage closed-loop cooling systems to reduce water consumption, require sustainable building practices and establish construction timelines for phased developments.

Several council members raised questions about enforcement, future expansions and whether special use permits could be revoked if operators fail to comply with the ordinance's conditions.

Council member Ryan Jackson asked whether permits could be rescinded if operators violated the standards. Staff said special use permits can be revoked if developers fail to meet the conditions established by the city.

Council member Keenan Cortez supported sending the proposal back for further work, saying the city should take the time necessary to ensure the ordinance is as strong as possible before adoption.

Council member Josh DeTar expressed concern that a developer could submit an application before the ordinance is finalized and avoid the new standards.

Council member Chuck Copple suggested the council consider a temporary moratorium on new data center permits until the ordinance is adopted, giving the city time to complete its work and observe similar projects elsewhere. Other council members cautioned against pursuing a moratorium, and no action was taken on the idea.

During the public hearing, Rebecca Collins of the Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance urged the council to support staff's recommendation to delay action, saying clear local regulations would protect community resources while providing certainty for developers.

"Rushing an incomplete draft falls short of the industry standard, while rejecting it entirely leaves Joplin without any guidance for future development," Collins said.

One resident spoke against the broader data center proposal and questioned the city's role in future development, while another asked whether developers could seek variances from the ordinance's requirements. Staff responded that any standards adopted in the zoning code would have to be followed unless the code itself was amended.

The revised ordinance is expected to return to the Planning and Zoning Commission later this month before being considered again by the City Council, likely during its first meeting in August.