On Dec. 1, 2025, the DeKalb City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to forward to City Council a recommendation to annex and rezone approximately 560 acres for Project Vector, a multi‑phase development proposed by Chicago West Business Center that would build four data‑center campus buildings and two electrical substations.

The commission’s recommendation, made during a public hearing and motioned by Commissioner McMahon, would change the subject parcels from single‑family residential to PDI (Planned Development Industrial) and approve the development plan, building elevations and final plat for the phased project. The motion passed on a roll call vote of the commissioners present.

Applicant Jerry Krasinski described the project as a continuation of industrial development south of I‑88 and said the first phase would be architecturally screened and use modern cooling and power systems. Krasinski told the commission, “we want this done responsibly, sustainably, and really to let it fit in with the harmony of the area.” He said the overall campus would amount to just under 3,000,000 square feet across about 560 acres and be built in four phases over a period the applicant estimated at six to eight years, depending on market and utility timing.

The applicant and its technical team emphasized two technical features repeatedly: a closed‑loop, waterless cooling system for server racks and a proprietary, natural‑gas powered "turbo cell" on‑site generation approach for bridging power. James Feezzi of Endeavor, the proposed operator, said the closed‑loop system is charged at startup and “designed to be a 20 year closed loop system,” and the company expects a design PUE (power usage effectiveness) near 1.08.

Noise, water, traffic and long‑term environmental impacts were the primary concerns raised by residents during an extended public‑comment period. Residents near Southpointe Greens and Girler Road said they feared increased noise, light, construction impacts, and reductions in property values; one neighbor said, “the peace and tranquility of my neighborhood will be long gone.” The applicant’s sound consultant, William Bone, presented a modeling report and said proposed mitigation (including parapet and acoustical enclosures and a 22‑foot acoustical wall around turbo cells) would keep noise levels within the city ordinance and Illinois Pollution Control Board frequency limits.

City staff and the city manager highlighted economic and fiscal considerations. The city manager noted the region’s prior data‑center investments and provided preliminary local tax impact estimates, while staff pointed to letters of support from local taxing bodies, Kishwaukee College and NIU and a letter from the Illinois Department of Agriculture supporting the enterprise‑zone expansion tied to the project.

Commissioners debated the technical submittals and public input, and the adopted motion included an added paragraph requested by a neighboring property owner to preserve a designated detention/conservation area from future building. The commission’s action is a recommendation; the annexation and rezoning must still be considered and approved by the DeKalb City Council at an upcoming meeting.

The City Council is scheduled to consider the proposed annexation and rezoning next week; the commission record and staff report will accompany the council packet.