Residents press Hobart council to block proposed data center, citing health, noise and traffic concerns

Several Hobart residents used the council’s public‑comment period to urge the mayor and council to halt or strictly condition a proposed data center planned for the annexed Ross Township parcels, saying the project threatens public health, the environment and emergency response.

Patricia Corey, of 7203 Colorado Street, told the council: “I say absolutely no data center at 61st And 69th Avenue.” She asked the mayor for a written promise that if wells dry up during construction or operation, residents would receive replacement wells and said local residents feel the area is being turned into a “dumping zone.” Corey also described two incidents she said raised concerns about emergency services, including a case where dispatchers reportedly could not find an address; Mayor said he would follow up with the fire department and pull call records.

Jennifer McQuaid of 6731 Grand Boulevard told the council she and many Ross Township residents feel “like we are being treated as a sacrifice zone,” and pressed the city on the environmental and public‑health risks she associates with large data centers. McQuaid cited estimates she said were discussed publicly — multiple buildings with dozens of diesel generators — and urged the council to require stronger mitigations, including a lower noise standard and baseline groundwater and soil testing before construction.

Multiple commenters asked whether the city had tested groundwater or required dewatering protections. A resident asked for baseline groundwater and soil testing “so that we know we have a baseline right now” before any dewatering. The mayor and staff said geotechnical and stormwater reports had been filed with the city and that construction permits include erosion and stormwater controls; staff also said the project’s filings addressing soils and site work are part of the administrative record.

Council members and staff acknowledged community concerns about traffic, noise and emergency response. The mayor said the city has required traffic studies and will use off‑site parking and busing to reduce queuing at the site gate, and added: “Our team is working diligently on this traffic” and on construction staging to limit impacts. Council members noted tradeoffs between land uses, tax revenue and service capacity, and repeatedly invited residents to submit reports and documentation so staff and council can follow up.

No formal action on the data‑center project occurred during the meeting; several residents asked the council to pursue specific protective measures (lowered noise limits for new construction, baseline groundwater and soil testing and a tailored “data‑center ordinance” with mitigation requirements). The mayor said the city has engaged with outside groups and developers and that staff will continue to meet with residents and the company; councilmembers said they would consider further studies and regulatory options.

What’s next: Council did not adopt a data‑center‑specific ordinance at this meeting. Residents asked for baseline testing and additional public meetings; the council said staff would follow up and that related zoning, platting and permit applications will proceed through standard public‑notice processes where the public can submit formal comments.