Altoona council rezones 373.34 acres, clears way for proposed IALCO data center project
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Summary
The Altoona City Council unanimously changed the zoning of 373.34 acres from A-1 agricultural to conditional M-1 limited industrial and authorized a development agreement with IALCO entities; the conditions exclude heavier industrial uses, and an online commenter asked whether annexation was planned.
The Altoona City Council voted unanimously June 2 to rezone 373.34 acres from A-1 (Agricultural) to conditional M-1 (Limited Industrial), and to authorize a development agreement with IALCO Polk County entities that would permit a proposed data center project on the site.
Community Development Director John Shaw told the council the requested rezoning would be implemented through an amendment to Chapter 165 of the City Code and that the proposed conditions would bar heavier industrial uses from the property. Sam Bishop of consulting firm Tract introduced the firm’s role and described the proposal as data centers for the site.
During the continuation of the public hearing, online resident Kristyn Steeples asked whether the city planned to annex the property and what was planned for the land; Mayor Dean O'Connor replied the parcels were not being annexed and said more information would follow. The hearing was opened at 6:31 p.m. and closed at 6:33 p.m.
Council roll-call tallies recorded unanimous approval (4-0) on the ordinance readings and for publication. The council also recorded a unanimous vote on the related development-agreement item. City staff will proceed with the ordinance publication and the development-agreement implementation steps as recorded by the council.