The Land Use Planning Committee voted to postpone consideration of a petition to rezone approximately 1,000 acres from agricultural to industrial for a proposed data center, after staff described significant public opposition and outstanding questions about infrastructure including water.

Sean Klein, area plan commission director, told the committee the site would be rezoned from agricultural to industrial and is located along Chicago Trail between Timothy and Spruce Road. He said staff found the proposal inconsistent with the county comprehensive plan's recommendation to preserve highly productive agricultural areas but that portions of the site fall within an economic development priority area. Klein summarized the Area Plan Commission recommendation as unfavorable by a 7–0 vote and reported 144 written statements submitted before the APC hearing, with 143 in remonstrance and 1 in favor. "This comes to you with an unfavorable recommendation from the area plan commission by a vote of 7 to 0," Klein said. "Prior to the APC public hearing, we did receive a 144, written statements in total... 143 were in remonstrance."

Brandon Dickinson, representing the petitioner, acknowledged outstanding questions—particularly about water usage—and said the project team had evaluated capacity and believed municipal water could serve the site but that exact usage figures were not yet finalized. He said additional time to coordinate with the town would allow the petitioner and local officials to "better understand where they would like to see water capacities" and to provide more detailed answers. When asked if the item should be postponed to allow more time, Dickinson said more time "would be helpful."

A motion to postpone consideration until the committee's October meeting passed; a committee member later stated that the tally was effectively 4 in favor and 1 opposed. The committee recorded that many remonstrances came from unincorporated St. Joseph County and the town of New Carlisle, and staff advised that approval would likely require roadway improvements, municipal water and sewer extensions, a traffic impact study, and written commitments limiting heavier industrial uses if advanced.

The petitioner and staff will continue coordination with the town and return with additional information at the committee's next scheduled hearing.