What the public record shows about data center proposals, interim ordinances, and zoning reviews across West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, and Eagan.
Source-backed civic record · Official sources first · Local reporting labeled
Page status: Some details need official source verification · Sources accessed 2026-06-10
Attribution limit: City-level official records and local media are the sources for this page. State legislative status and June 2026 IGH council deliberation outcomes are not confirmed from official sources reviewed for this record.
This page summarizes what official city records and labeled local reporting show about data center activity across the five-city trial area. It does not evaluate whether data centers are good or bad. It records what governing bodies did, what is still in process, and what needs official source verification. Each city section links to the official sources used.
Two cities have full record pages with source-by-source detail: Eagan and Inver Grove Heights. The other three cities have status summaries based on available sources.
City governments in Minnesota can use several local land-use tools when a data center proposal comes before them: zoning ordinances that define which land uses are permitted in each district; conditional use permits that allow a use only under specific conditions; site plan review to assess building placement, utilities, traffic, and site design; interim ordinances that pause a use for a study period while the city develops permanent rules; public hearing requirements that give residents a formal opportunity to comment before a council vote; and agenda review through the Planning Commission and City Council.
Cities do not control regional energy policy, statewide utility planning, or all water and electric infrastructure decisions. Those involve state regulators, utilities, and other authorities outside city jurisdiction. This page covers only what local city governments did or reviewed.
Eagan approved an interim ordinance in February 2026 to study data centers. The ordinance restricts expansion or new development of data centers using more than 20 MW or within 500 feet of residential uses. The study period runs to February 17, 2027 unless terminated earlier by the council. The city described having two existing data centers and two under construction as of early 2026.
Inver Grove Heights reviewed a proposed data center at 5842 Carmen Ave E (former Travel Tags site, approximately 50,000 sq ft, five megawatts anticipated). The Planning Commission reviewed the application April 7, 2026. The City Council reviewed the major site plan April 27, 2026. The City Council adopted an interim moratorium ordinance May 11, 2026. Local reporting describes applicant legal action claims and June 2026 reconsidering discussions. Those details are reported by local media and need official minutes or agenda packet verification.
Moratorium status as of June 2026, the applicant entity structure, and the outcome of any June council deliberation need final agenda packet, ordinance text, or minutes verification.
No South St. Paul data center proposal or moratorium was found in this research pass. The Inver Grove Heights proposal at 5842 Carmen Ave E is near South St. Paul's airport and nearby residential areas, just over the city border. South St. Paul is listed as a nearby-impact city. This record should remain attached to Inver Grove Heights unless a South St. Paul official action is found.
A May 19, 2026 Planning Commission work session memo reviewed permissible land uses in all zoning districts. The memo defined data center as a land use and noted that data centers are not currently listed in any zoning district. Staff proposed adding data center as a conditional use in the I-2 district with a residential buffer recommendation. This is a zoning review, not a specific data center proposal.
Source: May 19, 2026 Planning Commission Work Session Report, Review of Permissible Land Uses in All Zoning Districts (wspmn.gov, Official record, accessed 2026-06-10).
No current source-backed Mendota Heights data center proposal, moratorium, or zoning amendment was found in this research pass. This remains a watch item. Check future agendas and planning records for any new items.
City-level decisions are the primary focus of this page. The following state item is listed as context only. It is not a city action.
HF 4888 was introduced in the Minnesota Legislature in 2026. The bill would enact a state-level data center moratorium. This is a state legislative item, not a local city action. Its status and outcome are not confirmed by a source reviewed for this record. Residents should check the Minnesota Legislature website for current bill status.
Source: HF 4888, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Official state record, accessed 2026-06-10). Attribution limit: this source confirms the bill text and introduction. It does not confirm passage, enactment, or current bill status.