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Munster Plan Commission defers new UDO after hours of public concern over data-center rules and other changes
Summary
The Plan Commission continued consideration of a proposed Unified Development Ordinance after dozens of residents urged stricter limits on data centers, stronger enforcement for noise and water impacts, and changes to garden, fencing and short-term rental rules. The hearing was continued to July 14 to allow more public review and full commission participation.
The Town of Munster Plan Commission voted June 9 to defer action on a proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) after more than two hours of public comment and receipt of about 120 emailed submissions. Commissioners said they wanted more time to review detailed concerns and to ensure the full commission could participate at the next hearing.
Residents filled the podium to press for modifications to specific UDO provisions, with repeated concerns about newly introduced language that would allow "data center" uses in certain zones. "Data centers are notoriously loud, have a constant hum of cooling systems, and can severely disrupt the quality of life for nearby residents," said Christine Claryan, a Munster homeowner who warned that penalties must be strong enough to force compliance. Another resident said the town should simply bar data centers outright rather than rely on permit conditions.
Speakers raised additional issues across the 200-plus page draft: limits on front-yard edible gardening, proposed fence-opacity rules, proposed permitting for real-estate signage, and short-term rental restrictions. David Thornberg, chair of the town sustainability committee, urged replacing rigid percentage caps on edible gardens with maintenance- and nuisance-based standards, saying the change would better support sustainable land use.
Town staff described the UDO as an effort to replace the current character-based code with a more modern, consolidated regulatory framework. "We've updated the entire code to make it more streamlined and readable for businesses, residents and developers," staff said during the presentation, noting the proposed ordinance reflects changes in state law and planning practice. Commissioners and staff repeatedly stressed the hearing was an opportunity to collect public input, not final approval of particular projects.
Commissioners said they received hundreds of pages of comments and requested additional clarity on technical sections referenced by multiple speakers: noise enforcement and monitoring for large mechanical systems, stormwater and water-use guardrails, and how financial incentives would be disclosed. Several commenters asked for a single public web page compiling the UDO proposal, staff reports, exhibits and fiscal or utility analyses related to any major proposed use such as a technology park or data center.
After public comment closed, the commission voted to continue the public hearing to July 14, 2026, to allow more time for staff to prepare responses, for commission members to review written submissions, and for fuller public participation. The commission emphasized that deferring the UDO did not mean support for or against any specific use; commissioners repeatedly said scheduling the item for further review does not approve a data center or any other facility.
