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Residents urge council to halt data‑center plans, cite noise, groundwater and emergency‑response worries
Summary
During an extended public‑comment period residents opposed a proposed data center and related annexation, raising concerns about traffic, noise levels, groundwater testing and ambulance response times; council and staff said they will provide additional data and pursue follow‑up meetings.
An extended public‑comment session at the March 18 meeting centered on strong resident opposition to a proposed data‑center development and recent annexation moves in Ross Township.
Corey (speaker 7), a resident who gave a lengthy statement, urged the council to abandon the plan for the site at the 61st/69th Avenue corridor, saying, “I say absolutely no data center at 61st And 69th Avenue.” Multiple residents, including Jean Clausen (speaker 4) and Jennifer McQuaid (speaker 10), raised related concerns about traffic congestion, the health effects of diesel generators and the noise footprint of large facilities. McQuaid told the council it “feels like you have turned us into a sacrifice zone,” describing long‑standing local opposition to rezoning and annexation.
Speakers asked whether the city would require groundwater baseline testing before construction, noting examples in other jurisdictions where dewatering and construction changed concentrations in on‑site water and, residents said, caused later contamination concerns. City staff and the mayor responded that the project proponents had submitted soil and related filings and that staff would attempt to provide additional documentation and meet with residents and outside experts.
Residents also cited emergency‑response concerns after one resident described an ambulance that reportedly could not find a house; Mayor (speaker 1) said he would "follow‑up with our fire department and find" timing and call records. Council members and staff acknowledged that traffic and construction would cause temporary disruption and described existing traffic‑management and off‑site parking plans for construction workers and vendors.
What happens next: residents asked for formal protections — lowered noise limits for new construction, dark‑sky/lighting requirements, and groundwater baseline testing — and requested separate, detailed meetings with city staff and developers. City staff committed to continued engagement and follow‑up on several topics raised during public comment.
Representative quotes: "I say absolutely no data center at 61st And 69th Avenue," said resident Corey (speaker 7). "It feels like you have turned us into a sacrifice zone," said Jennifer McQuaid (speaker 10).
Ending: The council did not take a final legislative vote on the data‑center project during this meeting; residents and council members agreed to further outreach and documentation prior to any future zoning or permit decisions.
