Urbana Council reverts zoning text after residents raise water, ecology and surveillance concerns about proposed data center

Urbana City Council voted 6-0 on June 16 to adopt an ordinance reverting Chapter 1126 of the Urbana Codified Ordinances to the version in force before Ordinance 4621-25, following an extended public-comment period in which residents urged the council to block or reconsider zoning changes tied to a proposed data center.

Joe Buckalew, co-chair of the Moratorium Committee, told the council the committee had not met since the last update and planned to address potential benefits and fiscal impacts of the proposed data center on June 23. "The purpose of the committee cannot be fulfilled if principal designation stands," Buckalew said, and he added that "the committee's work does not need to be finished for Council to act on it."

Councilmember Paul Thackery and others debated timing. Thackery said government "can be slow" by design and warned councilors against rushing a zoning change; he emphasized that reverting the zoning "does not give conditional use" and would restore prior zoning conditions while allowing the committee to finish its work.

During the public-comment period, dozens of residents spoke across topics tied to the pending zoning question. Several raised environmental concerns about Cedar Bog and the Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid, saying they feared construction or operation of a large data center would harm local habitat. Cheryl Erwin, identifying herself as representing Cedar Bog volunteers, urged council to consider the area's rare plants and said the data center "will eventually destroy Cedar Bog."

Multiple commenters cited potential effects on local drinking water and groundwater quality if a data center were built. Dave Combs described contaminants and the pathways by which he said they could reach local water supplies. Others warned of higher electricity demand and impacts to firefighting capacity near a large campus. Steve Kirkwood, who said he has a data center construction background, warned the facility "would use twenty times the electricity of the residency of the City of Urbana."

Surveillance concerns also surfaced. Max Jenks alleged the city "has been spying on the people with the Flock cameras" and said audit-log claims from the police department were not accurate, asserting that camera data have been commercially shared. The transcript records no Council or staff confirmation of those broader allegations during the meeting; Brad Winner Sr. thanked Director of Finance Matt Wellbaum for providing documentation that refuted Winner's earlier claim about a cancelled county auditorium reservation.

Council members thanked speakers and discussed next steps. Mr. Thackery moved the ordinance adopting the Planning Commission recommendation to revert Chapter 1126; after a roll-call vote the ordinance passed 6-0. Council documents show the ordinance returns the text to the version that governed before Ordinance 4621-25; the moratorium committee will continue its review under the reinstated language.

The council also heard additional business including the annual tax budget (adopted separately), a Board of Control recommendation for road repairs and other departmental reports. The council adjourned at 8:13 p.m.; its next regular meeting is scheduled for July 7, 2026.