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La Porte board approves access easement with Microsoft; company says it will pay for construction damage
Summary
The board approved a nonexclusive access easement to align recorded easements with Stevens Road for a Microsoft data center project; Microsoft said it will survey preconstruction conditions and pay to repair construction damage, and the board discussed traffic and damage‑determination procedures.
The La Porte Community School Corporation board on July 20 approved a nonexclusive access easement agreement with Microsoft intended to update recorded easements to match the current alignment of Stevens Road near the district transportation center.
Superintendent Dr. Jen Wood said survey work for Microsoft’s data center expansion identified a gap between recorded easements and the road's present location. The agreement preserves district ownership of the parcel while granting Microsoft access rights tied to the road alignment.
"This agreement grants Microsoft a nonexclusive access easement while allowing the district to retain ownership of the property and protecting the district's long term interests," Dr. Wood said.
Mike Stockwell, a Microsoft representative at the meeting, described early planning steps and said the company will document road conditions before construction and accept responsibility for construction‑related repairs. "We're going through a capacity study right now...and, ultimately, there will be a form of a road use agreement or as part of the development agreement, any funds needed to repair damage caused by construction will be paid by Microsoft," Stockwell said.
Board members pressed for clarity on how damage would be determined. Stockwell said preconstruction surveys and video documentation would establish baseline conditions so that post‑construction damage would be evident. Dr. Wood added that district staff and Microsoft have already discussed traffic impacts and that the district would work with Microsoft to avoid adverse effects on bus routes.
Board members also noted the agreement updates a recorded easement that should have been corrected after the 2021 transportation center realignment. The item carried on a voice vote.
What’s next: the district will finalize the recorded easement update and staff indicated they will continue coordination with Microsoft on surveys, traffic studies and any subsequent road‑use or development agreements.
Quote: "Any funds needed to repair damage caused by construction will be paid by Microsoft," Mike Stockwell, Microsoft.
