Residents press Urbana council over proposed data‑center cooling and zoning changes

Several Urbana residents used the public comment period on June 2 to press the City Council for stronger scrutiny of a proposed data‑center project and recent zoning actions.

Judy Page, vice president of the Cedar Bog Association Board of Trustees, raised environmental health concerns about closed‑loop cooling systems. “There is no way that developers can guarantee that there would not be any water issues,” Page said, noting systems sometimes require flushing and “there are all sorts of nasty chemicals” that could reach the sewage treatment plant. She said she was not sure the plant could handle such residues and asked how any impacts to humans, plants and animals would be addressed.

Several other residents said the public process has eroded trust. Summer Woodburn said it had taken “many hours and document production” for residents to track the zoning proposals and said she was worried votes were taken before adequate public discussion. “I don't want to be the opposition every time,” Woodburn said, urging council members to meet directly with residents.

Brad Winner directly accused city officials of misleading the public, naming Director of Administration Spencer Mitchell and Director of Law Mark Feinstein: “Mr. Mitchell had been deceptive,” Winner said, and he urged councilors not to be a “rubber stamp.” The transcript does not record a response to Winner’s allegations, so the city’s position on the specific charge was not addressed during the meeting.

Resident Connie Flanly described noise concerns she associated with a nearby data center elsewhere: “I could hear the noise... it was horrendous,” and she asked council to revert zoning to allow the city to reconsider development plans.

Council did not take formal action on any zoning change at the June 2 meeting; Planning Commission has recommended reverting Chapter 1126 to its pre‑2025 version and Council scheduled a special meeting for June 9 to continue consideration.