Butler Township and St. Cloud Adopt Data Center Regulations
Butler Township and St. Cloud officials approved new zoning ordinances and land use amendments to regulate the development of large-scale data centers.
The Butler Township Board of Supervisors approved a 50-page curative amendment on October 13, 2026, establishing strict regulations for data centers in industrial-zoned areas. The ordinance, passed before a legal deadline, permits facilities by special exception provided developers possess at least 25 acres of land and adhere to building height limits of 50 feet. The rules include 16 water protection standards and a 1,250-foot setback from residential and agricultural zones.
While the amendment grants final approval authority to the appointed zoning board, Supervisor Michael Reich indicated he may push for a transition to a conditional use process to ensure elected supervisors cast the final vote. Residents and consultants for landowner William Skuba challenged the suitability of the Green Mountain industrial zone, citing mining history and threatened bat species. Township solicitor Sean Logsdon clarified that the burden of proof for meeting these standards rests entirely with the applicants.
Separately, the St. Cloud Planning Commission voted 4 to 2 on Tuesday to amend the city's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. These changes restrict hyper-scale data centers to business parks on the city's outskirts, requiring a quarter-mile buffer from residential areas and a multi-step approval process involving environmental reviews. Two commissioners opposed the measure, advocating for a total moratorium instead. The proposal now moves to the St. Cloud City Council for a second public hearing in November or December.
