Residents urge Caledonia board to deny rezoning for Microsoft ‘Project Nova’ data center

Dozens of residents urged the Caledonia Village Board on Tuesday to reject a request to rezone roughly 245 acres to allow a large Microsoft data center, saying the change would erase farmland, strain water and energy resources, and alter the village’s rural character.

Public comments filled much of the meeting. Tiffany Hammond, who said her family has lived in Caledonia for three generations, told the board the rezoning would “erase” open fields and habitat and that the community does not want the development. “Once farmland is paved over, it is gone forever,” Hammond said.

Several speakers, including Kathy Berg Westberg and Kim Anderson, raised technical and environmental concerns: potential groundwater pollution and damage to private wells, large water and electricity demands, noise and light impacts on neighbors and wildlife, and proximity to coal-ash piles. Amanda Roscoe said the site lacks existing infrastructure—roads, water, sewer and power upgrades—that would be costly and disruptive to residents.

Paul Stecker asked the board for greater transparency and raised questions about ties between the village, the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) and utilities. “For our village’s ethical standards and potential conflicts of interest involving public officials...must be disclosed to all residents,” Stecker said, noting he had submitted public-record requests and offered to provide 500 pages of documents.

Microsoft representatives responded with a short introduction to “Project Nova” and an invitation to continue the conversation. Diane Strom, Microsoft’s community affairs regional manager, said the proposal is at an early stage, that the company is committed to listening to residents, and that Microsoft aims to ensure its data centers “pay their own way” for electricity and infrastructure. Strom said Microsoft is improving water-use efficiency and plans local hiring and community investments, citing partnerships with Gateway Technical College and other local organizations.

Hoda Nia, Microsoft’s land-development manager, said there is no final design yet and that zoning approval is an early step in a longer process that will include infrastructure scoping, master planning and permits. Rich Breedingham of engineering firm Dewberry, the formal applicant, said the request includes a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning tied to a Transition Light Industrial District adopted by the village in January 2025 and that more detailed environmental and design information will come in later phases and at public hearings.

Residents repeatedly asked why Caledonia should host another large center when a Microsoft campus is already under construction in Mount Pleasant; several speakers pointed to regional impacts on the power system and to previous local developments that failed to deliver promised benefits. Multiple residents urged the board to deny rezoning or to require stronger community protections and benefits if the application moves forward.

The village board did not vote on the rezoning at the meeting. Laura Millian of the Racine County Economic Development Corporation, who introduced Microsoft, said the company will hold a neighborhood information meeting the following evening and encouraged residents to attend.

Next steps: the developer and county will host a local information meeting; formal public hearings on the comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning will follow at the plan commission and village-board stages before any zoning change is approved.