STJ Data Center, Buchanan County, Missouri

Capstone Technology Campus, a company owned by St. Joseph businessman Steve Craig, has withdrawn its applications for the STJ Data Center campus, which would have annexed about 130 acres at 6321 Pickett Road into the city and rezoned that land and 5701 Pickett Road in Buchanan County, Missouri. "At the developer's request, both applications have been withdrawn," the city of St. Joseph said on June 26, 2026, adding that any future proposal would need new applications.

The campus would have had four data center buildings and a substation, developed by Atmosphere Data Centers, an operator led by Chuck McBride, formerly of Radius DC. The developer's fact sheet promised more than 1,000 construction jobs, 150 to 250 permanent jobs and an estimated $50 million a year in taxes.

Opponents cited the environment, noise and the limited economic payoff, and argued the land would suit other development better; two petitions against it drew more than 720 and 1,500 signatures. "They need sewer, they need water, they need city infrastructure. Anything going in there would," Eastern District Commissioner Scott Burnham said, since the site would need annexation into St. Joseph to get city utilities.

On July 20, 2026, the St. Joseph City Council voted 8-0 for an emergency ordinance pausing all applications to build or expand data centers in the city for 12 months while it hires outside help to update its zoning code. Many residents had asked for 18 months and a citizens advisory committee, and City Manager Mike Schumacher said a work session on forming that committee would be held in August 2026. Any new plan for the site would have to wait out the pause, then start over with new applications through the city's standard review, ending with the City Council.