The CRG data center development project in Festus tentatively remains on point for preliminary work to begin in November, said Chris McKee, the company’s president.
McKee on Oct. 15 responded in a written statement to questions submitted concerning the project’s status.
“Yes, November is still our target,” he said. “That’s subject to the city’s review schedule, and we’ll confirm a date once the approvals are in hand.
“The early work this fall would focus on site mobilization and grading, which runs under a land disturbance permit. Before vertical construction starts, the ordinance (Festus ordinance regarding data centers) requires us to hold the informational meeting for residents near the site, and our permit drawings have to be submitted to and approved by the city. That approval is administrative only; there is no site plan approval. Building permits for the data center buildings come later and require the completed sound study and lighting plan.”
The informational meeting he referred to is required under the Festus data center ordinance. While some in the public have asserted two such meetings are required under the ordinance, that is not the case, McKee said.
“The ordinance requires one informational meeting before vertical construction begins, covering the project and the sound-mitigation plan,” he said.
The informational meeting has not yet been scheduled, he said.
“Not yet,” he said. “That meeting is tied to vertical construction, and as we approach that point we will coordinate with the city on date and location. Once it’s set, residents within 1,000 feet get direct notice as the ordinance requires, and it will be posted on the city’s website and FestusForward.com (a website CRG created concerning the Festus data center development project).”
CRG announced in late 2025 its plan to develop a hyperscale data center on 361 acres north of Hwy. 67 and west of Hwy. CC. CRG, which is the St. Louis-based data center development arm for Clayco, has estimated the cost of developing the facility at $6 billion. In the Festus project, CRG would develop the property, and then a data center company would operate it, although no operator has yet been identified.
“We’re in active discussions with multiple users, and we’ll announce one when it’s appropriate,” McKee said. “However, our current plan is designed to work for a variety of users.”
Opponents to the project emerged soon after CRG’s plans were made public, many of whom have attended Festus City Council and Planning & Zoning meetings to voice their opposition, as well as have held public protests. Some filed lawsuits against the project or matters related to the project.
The project area now encompasses approximately 370 acres after some additional property was added, McKee said. The latest addition came when the City Council approved 6.55 acres in annexations for the project at their Aug. 24 meeting.
On March 30, the majority of the City Council as it consisted at that time approved a data center development agreement with CRG, which McKee referred to in his statement.
He spoke of upcoming steps in the project process for CRG.
“The next steps follow the development agreement and the city’s data center ordinance: finalizing our permit drawings and submitting them to the city for administrative approval; securing the permits needed to begin site work; and, ahead of vertical construction, holding the informational meeting for nearby residents and completing the studies the ordinance requires,” he said. “In parallel, we’re continuing the community webinar series and our conversations with prospective users. Our target remains to mobilize and begin site work this fall.”
CRG has sponsored three webinars concerning its Festus data center development project and all three may be accessed at the Festus Forward website. Another one will soon be offered, he said.
“Yes, the next webinar will cover sound and will occur in the next few weeks,” McKee said. “Announcements go out through the FestusForward.com email list and are posted on the site, along with recordings of each session.”
In response to a question about a gravesite marked on a project site on the CRG website (realcrg.com), McKee said that specific area will be left untouched.
“Consultants identified a small gravesite associated with the old homestead on the land,” he said. “It’s in the part of the property we’re leaving undisturbed.”
Ben DeClue, the Festus city administrator, said the city will help publicize when the CRG informational meeting with citizens is to take place.
“CRG continues to work on their final plans,” DeClue said. “Once those are completed and ready for submission, they will contact the city to schedule the meeting. The city will provide ample notice to the public and press once a date has been set.”
DeClue said it is up to CRG to schedule the informational meeting that under the city code on data centers is intended “to describe the project and its proposed sound mitigation strategy.”
He added that the CRG webinars are separate from the required informational meeting.
“Because it comes up frequently and incorrectly at our meetings, I want to reiterate that CRG’s webinar series does not count as their required public meeting,” DeClue said.
The project is subject to review just as any other building project would be, he said.
“The city will review any applications or plan submitted by CRG in accordance with its ordinances governing subdivision and building construction,” DeClue said. “Whether that will involve review by the City Council will depend on the nature of the applications submitted.”