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Residents press council for transparency as Port Washington approves pre‑annexation deal for proposed data center
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Port Washington Common Council approved a supplemental settlement agreement with the Town of Port Washington and a pre‑annexation agreement with Red Granite Development LLC, while dozens of residents voiced concerns about a proposed hyperscale data center and asked for greater transparency, studies and public forums.
Port Washington residents raised repeated concerns about a proposed hyperscale data center and related annexation at the Jan. 21 Common Council meeting as council members approved a supplemental settlement agreement with the Town of Port Washington and a pre‑annexation agreement with Red Granite Development LLC.
Multiple speakers from the town and surrounding areas said they had received little information, feared impacts to property values and quality of life, and asked the council for public forums and clearer disclosures. Amanda Mueller, who said she lives on Lilac Lane in the Town of Port Washington, said her realtor told her the data center discussion already affects buyers and that she was advised to consult a real‑estate attorney about disclosure obligations even though no construction has begun.
Other residents cited environmental and utility concerns. Caleb Tydrick said energy use and transmission would affect regional rates and questioned whether We Energies’ assurances would prevent rate impacts. Jim Dawkins described recent developments at Mount Pleasant and Microsoft to illustrate the scale of power demands for hyperscale sites and asked what limits the city could place on future expansion beyond a predevelopment agreement. Paige Dawkins urged council members to visit operating hyperscale facilities before voting on annexation or zoning decisions.
Several speakers asked about nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and transparency; the mayor responded that the city has not signed NDAs on the project. Residents asked whether state review or Department of Administration input is required for an annexation of this type and asked whether an annexation referendum or a Department of Administration opinion would be sought; speakers referenced Wisconsin annexation review practices and asked the council to confirm compliance with applicable statutory review.
Council action and process: the council approved a supplemental settlement agreement related to town–city boundary and services and approved a pre‑annexation agreement with Red Granite Development LLC. The council noted the township and city continue to coordinate; staff said FAQs and responses would be posted on the city website and that citizens may direct written questions to economicdev@portwashingtonwisconsin.gov.
Why it matters: speakers said the proposed development could affect home values, light and sound near Harrington Beach State Park and Forest Beach Nature Preserve, stormwater and field tiles, and long‑term land use if ownership changes in future sales. Several speakers said the scale of the project and questions about power, traffic, and permanent jobs merited more study and direct engagement with affected town residents.
Next steps noted by council staff included posting answers to FAQs on the city website, continuing discussions with the town, and responding to specific technical questions (utilities, easements, road impacts) as the annexation and predevelopment negotiations continue. The council’s approvals at the Jan. 21 meeting clear some procedural steps but do not finalize any development or construction; subsequent zoning, annexation, and utility approvals would be required before ground‑disturbing work could begin.
