St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting: Data Center Regulations and Transit Sales Tax Appropriations - July 17, 2026

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen met on Friday, July 17, 2026, with 14 members present. The meeting focused heavily on Board Bill 49, which would create comprehensive zoning regulations for data centers. After extensive debate and multiple amendments, the bill was placed on the informal calendar to return to the Planning Commission due to substantive changes. Other actions included final passage of transit sales tax appropriations totaling $13,529,900 and a Bloomberg grant for youth climate programs.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from July 10, 2026.
• Moved Board Bills 44, 62, and others to the perfection consent calendar.

Discussion Items

• Board Bill 49 – Data Center Zoning Regulations (Sponsored by Alderwoman of Ward 1): The sponsor presented a detailed overview of the bill, including definitions, use tables, application requirements, setback standards, noise controls, water usage, backup power restrictions, and renewable energy requirements. The bill originally required 100% renewable energy within 10 years.
• Amendment 4 (Alderwoman of Ward 8): Proposed allowing data centers to exceed the 30% cap on floor area within 300 feet of another data center if a community benefits agreement was reached. After debate, the amendment failed on a roll call vote (2 ayes, 5 nays).
• Amendment 6 (Alderwoman of Ward 8): Sought to allow data centers serving medical or research institutions on the same campus without adhering to certain setbacks, provided they are micro or standard size and all other setbacks apply. After revision, the amendment passed (9 ayes, 5 nays).
• Amendment 5 (Alderman of Ward 2): Introduced a waiver process for the renewable energy requirement if the utility provider is verifiably unable to supply bundled or unbundled renewable energy credits, subject to Board of Public Service approval with documentation. The amendment passed (12 ayes, 3 nays).
• Following the amendments, the sponsor moved to place Board Bill 49 on the informal calendar to return to the Planning Commission, as substantive changes were made.

Key Outcomes

• Board Bill 49 was placed on the informal calendar and must be reviewed again by the Planning Commission before returning to the full Board.
• Board Bill 32 (Bloomberg Philanthropies grant for youth climate action) received final passage with a roll call vote (approximately 11-2, but exact tally unclear from transcript).
• Board Bill 52 (appropriation of $13,529,900 from 1994 transit sales tax for Metro operations) passed 14-1, with Alderwoman of Ward 12 voting no.
• Board Bill 53 (identical appropriation from 1997 transit sales tax) passed 14-1, with the same dissenting vote.
• Resolution 78 (urging SLPS to engage in public input on the Future Ready Plan) was referred to the Health and Human Development Committee.
• Resolution 79 (honoring Gary Stoff, former Republican director of the Board of Election Commissioners) was adopted unanimously.
• The Board adjourned until Friday, July 24, 2026, at 10 a.m.