Clinton County plan commission forwards Logix Realty rezoning to commissioners with no recommendation after contentious public hearing

Clinton County’s Area Plan Commission on Sept. 2 heard a rezoning request from Logix Realty LLC for about 154.92 acres along County Road 100 North between 300 West and 450 West in Washington Township and ultimately sent the matter to the county commissioners without a recommendation.

The petition—which the applicant described as a conceptual plan to allow data-center development—prompted three hours of staff presentation, applicant remarks and public comment. The plan commission members disagreed over whether to continue the hearing to allow more community outreach and technical studies, whether the project’s drainage and road needs were addressed, and the likely local economic and utility impacts.

Staff described the parcel as roughly 154.92 acres adjacent to an industrial park and ConAgra, with county drainage facilities and an underground drainage pipe crossing the site, a transmission-line substation nearby and a single-lane gravel County Road 100 North on the site’s north side. Staff told the commission the county’s comprehensive plan and drainage ordinance raise concerns about approving large industrial uses before drainage and road improvements are resolved and recommended either more information or that any positive recommendation include specific commitments from the applicant to limit uses and fund infrastructure.

Doug Swain, who said he is a partner in Logistics Property Group and in an entity called Black Jewish Realty that is pursuing the site, told the commission his firm is proposing data center buildings and argued the project would bring high-wage jobs and substantial tax revenue. “Most of them today don't use water,” Swain said, adding the developer expects many modern facilities to rely on closed-loop cooling and to arrange dedicated power agreements so grid upgrades are funded by the project or customer contracts.

Multiple residents urged delay or denial. Caitlin Greeno (recorded in the transcript as Caitlin Reno/Greeno) read an affidavit arguing governments lack constitutional authority to use public funds for economic development incentives and demanded that public officials stop such practices; she and other residents raised concerns about water use, traffic, power-grid impacts, property values and the loss of farmland. “There's been not a single independent study on the effects this data center is gonna have on our town’s resources,” John Warren said during public comment.

Commission members debated two procedural choices raised during the meeting. The applicant initially requested a 60-day continuance; staff advised the commission that its rules allow only a single 30-day continuance without a supermajority waiver and recommended proceeding with the staff report and public comment so those present could be heard. A motion proposing a single 30-day continuance was made but died for lack of a second.

A later motion to send a negative recommendation to the county commissioners was moved and seconded but failed to get the four votes required by the commission’s rules. After further discussion the commission voted to forward the rezoning to the county commissioners with no recommendation. During the roll call on that final action, members Dan Sheets, Jeff (Shenn/—recorded with variations in the transcript) and Kevin Myers voted yes; the commission staff said the county commissioners will receive the commission’s record at their meeting on Sept. 16 and have up to 90 days to act.

Speakers on both sides pushed for more technical review: residents sought independent studies of water and power impacts as well as more direct outreach to surrounding homeowners; the applicant offered to hold a public meeting and to bring technical experts to address the community’s questions. Staff and several commissioners emphasized drainage, road improvement (County Road 100 North is single-lane gravel) and the need for commitments about allowable uses and infrastructure if the commissioners choose to approve a rezoning.

The county commissioners’ next regularly scheduled meeting is Sept. 16; the plan commission record and public comments will be part of the materials they receive when they consider the petition.

Ending: The rezoning petition will now proceed to the Clinton County commissioners for decision. The plan commission record includes the staff report, the applicant’s statement and a long public-comment record; commissioners and members of the public requested further technical information and a scheduled public forum so remaining questions about drainage, power and water can be explored before any legislative action.