Agenda - Council - 09/22/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Mayor Heineman summarized the direction to bring the matter back to Council after members had additional time to consider the information. Staff would continue monitoring public input, and no change to the City's current ALPR use was directed at that time. Mayor Heineman recessed the Work Session at 6:57 p.m. for the regular City Council meeting. Mayor Heineman reconvened the Work Session at 8:24 p.m. 2.02: Data Center Discussion Community Development Director Hanson introduced the data -center discussion. She explained that staff brought the matter forward because large data centers had received increased attention and concern regarding electricity and water consumption, noise, and proximity to residential neighborhoods and schools. She referenced a recent proposal considered by the City of Elk River, where the City Council ultimately denied a data -center request and imposed a one-year moratorium while conducting additional research. Community Development Director Hanson explained that Ramsey currently allows data centers as permitted uses within the I-1 and 1-2 zoning districts. Because they are permitted uses, the City presently has no data -center -specific performance standards or ability to impose conditions through a conditional use permit. Although vacant industrial land in Ramsey was limited, enough property remained for a data center to locate within the City potentially. Community Development Director Hanson identified three basic options for Council consideration: amend the City Code to make data centers conditional uses and establish specific design and performance standards; prohibit data centers within the applicable zoning districts; or leave the existing ordinance unchanged. She noted that making data centers conditional uses with specific standards appeared to be the most common approach among metropolitan -area communities she had reviewed. Developing appropriate standards would likely require approximately four to six months of research, consultation with other communities, and work with the City Attorney. Potential standards could address building size, water and energy consumption, and setbacks from residential properties, schools, parks, and other sensitive uses. She noted that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regulates noise and indicated the City could not establish standards more restrictive than applicable state requirements. Mayor Heineman asked about the applicable MPCA noise limits and expressed concern about how a continuous sound at the allowable level might affect an adjacent neighborhood. He noted that both the volume and the location at which the sound was measured were important considerations. Staff clarified that the applicable noise measurement was taken at the property line. City Council Work Session / September 8, 2026 Page 6 of 8