Residents demand BeltLine presentation; board directs staff to seek schedule and funding agreement

Several residents told the City of Pacific Board of Aldermen that a proposed BeltLine project — described by speakers as a large-scale data center proposal tied to zoning and infrastructure changes — has proceeded without adequate direct public engagement.

Corbett Shannon, who introduced himself before speaking to the board, said the proposal "carries implications for land use, infrastructure, public services and the long term character of this community" and urged the board to "require that BeltLine appear before you in a public setting" so the company "answer[s] questions directly and honestly." He said the company’s conduct had been "far from honorable," and asked the board to insist on town halls and public presentations.

Jessica Nicodemo told the board she had been following BeltLine’s activities in other states, cited a news account of restricted media access at a company event in Yukon, Oklahoma, and urged the board to consider barring (or strictly conditioning) BeltLine’s development in Pacific if the company would not engage transparently. Dana Bowers praised recent planning-and-zoning listening sessions and singled out Alderman Lesh for pressing for clarity at those meetings.

Planning-and-zoning representatives and the city attorney discussed procedural options for the board, including the effect of tabling a public hearing, when notices must be reissued, and how the city’s 60-day review period for PUD applications can be affected when applicants request a delay. Attorney Carr advised the board that keeping a public hearing open to a date certain avoids the need to republish notices; if a hearing is tabled without a date certain, the city may need to resend notices.

Following discussion the board approved a motion directing staff to contact the applicants or their designated representatives for the Alton/McLaren applications (the parties tied to the PUD filings). The directive asks staff to request an expected presentation date and the status of any funding agreement to cover technical review and testing. If the applicants do not provide a date, the board directed staff to set a date not to exceed 90 days from today and to report back to planning and zoning and to the board.

The board’s action does not approve or deny any rezoning or development application; it directs staff to obtain further information and, if necessary, to set a date for renewed public hearings so the public can have a chance to hear from the applicant and comment.