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St. Joseph County Council denies rezoning for proposed data‑center campus after long public hearing
Summary
After more than 10 hours of public testimony, the St. Joseph County Council voted 7–2 to deny a petition (Bill 42‑25) to rezone roughly 1,000 acres near New Carlisle from agricultural to industrial for a proposed data‑center campus; proponents cited jobs and apprenticeships, opponents raised water, traffic, farmland, and comprehensive‑plan concerns.
The St. Joseph County Council voted 7–2 early Sunday to deny a rezoning petition (Bill 42‑25) that would have reclassified about 1,000 acres near New Carlisle from agricultural to industrial to allow a multi‑building data‑center campus.
The decision followed a public hearing opened by President Schaetzel in which more than 100 people spoke during a marathon session that ran into the early morning. Supporters — including union representatives and tradespeople — urged the council to approve the rezoning to create construction work, apprenticeships and longer‑term technician and maintenance jobs. James Gardner of the International Union of Operating Engineers and several other labor leaders said the projects generate training opportunities for local young people and boost local contractors.
Opponents, speaki…
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