Plan Commission approves fill permit for proposed data‑center site after hours of public outcry

The Hobart Plan Commission voted 5–3 on Feb. 5 to approve Petition 26‑01, a fill permit authorizing mass grading at a 605‑acre site south of 61st Avenue east of Colorado Street that developers say will host a large data‑center campus. The public hearing drew more than two hours of testimony from residents, farmers and local organizations who urged tabling the request until a full site plan and independent environmental and hydrologic studies are completed.

The hearing, opened by City Attorney Heather McCarthy, followed strict public‑comment rules requiring each speaker be limited to two minutes. "This is not a question‑and‑answer session," McCarthy told attendees, adding that letters would be reflected in the record. Commissioners also approved several applicant‑side amendments proposed by Commissioner Dave Vinzant that reworded application terminology, limited off‑site hauling, and stated the fill permit would expire once a final site plan is approved.

Why it matters: Residents said the permit would allow large‑scale earthmoving and compaction before stormwater and groundwater designs are finalized, increasing the risk of flooding, groundwater drawdown and property damage. Farm owners and agritourism operators warned of noise, light and water‑table impacts on wells, livestock and visitor‑dependent businesses. Dozens of written objections and letters were placed on the record demanding independent water, wetlands and noise studies and a moratorium on further approvals for data‑center projects.

Local opposition focused on water and health risks. Bill Eich, speaking for the Eagle Creek homeowners association, asked the commission to postpone approval and to move construction start times from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Resident Garry Mikolics said approving fill before final grading elevations and a complete stormwater design "significantly increases the likelihood of flooding, surface runoff, erosion and subsurface water movement onto neighboring properties." Several farmers, including Seven Gables Farm owner Jennifer McQuade, asked that any testing be independent and paid for by the developer.

Supporters of the project framed it as an economic and infrastructure investment. Heather Ennis, president and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum, urged approval, saying the project would fund grid and sewer upgrades and create construction jobs and long‑term employment. "It will create thousands of construction jobs and 1,100 long‑term full‑time employees," Ennis said.

Developer and staff responses: Todd Huntington, an engineer with Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, told the commission borings and piezometer monitoring are underway and that erosion and sediment controls and construction fencing will be installed to avoid wetlands. "The ponds are sized for significant volumes to be handled on the site so that it is not draining toward the road," Huntington said, adding the intent is to keep detention ponds above the groundwater table and to monitor groundwater during grading. City Engineer Alex Metz noted IDEM oversight, third‑party inspections and a finalized soil permit as part of the regulatory framework, and said sewer and traffic improvements — paid for by the developer as part of tax‑abatement agreements — are included in the site‑plan process.

Commission action and next steps: After discussion the commission approved the fill permit with the amendments and findings of fact; roll call was 5 in favor and 3 opposed (Allen, Emig and SeDoris). The approval allows mass grading to begin under the conditions adopted, but commissioners and staff reiterated that a final site plan, traffic studies and environmental analyses must still be submitted and approved before building permits are issued.

What remains unresolved: Residents repeatedly asked for independent hydrologic, noise and health impact studies; several signaled intent to pursue legal challenges or APRA requests over access to documents they said were missing or preliminary. The developer estimated a full site plan within three to four months; opponents said that timeline was insufficient and urged a moratorium until Hobart adopts data‑center‑specific regulations or completes independent reviews.

The commission adjourned at 9:15 p.m. with conditions on inspection and site‑plan requirements still to be fulfilled.