Minneapolis City Council advances data center plan, lays out rules

Minneapolis leaders moved a data center ordinance ahead as members remained split over tax relief, oversight and environmental concerns.

The Minneapolis City Council moved the ordinance forward Monday, with the city’s moratorium set to end in two weeks. The proposal is headed to a full council vote later this week.

There were more than 1,600 public comments as the council debated the rules. The ordinance would require data centers to be downtown, 150,000 square feet or smaller and only in existing office space.

Other restrictions included that data centers cannot be the primary use of a building or be on the first two floors.

Supporters said the projects could help as downtown property values slump and the tax base falls.

“I have heard some say that the economic benefit of these small-scale data centers is wishful thinking; I beg to differ,” Minneapolis City Council Member Elizabeth Sh...