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Residents sharply oppose proposed Bonner data center at community meeting
Summary
In a timed public-comment period, many residents argued the proposed data center would harm water, air, noise and local quality of life; several urged the county to follow bylaws and reject the special-exception permit.
During the council’s three-minute public-comment session, multiple residents expressed strong opposition to the Bonner Veil AI Center proposal and urged county regulators to deny the special-exception permit if impacts cannot be mitigated.
One commenter (speaker 16) delivered an extended denunciation of the proposal: "This is a terrible, stupid, and selfishly evil project that is unwanted in Missoula," the speaker said, urging the council and county to prioritize community and environmental health. Brianne Adam (speaker 20), who identified herself as a nearby resident and longtime community member and teacher, urged the board to "follow your own bylaws" and argued the proposal was incompatible with nearby residential uses.
Not all public comments were uniformly oppositional. Gary Matson (speaker 18) described the project as "smaller" under county rules and said he believed it would have limited impacts on energy and water under those regulations. Other speakers called for organizing and community action; Michael Workman (speaker 9) encouraged listeners to join local organizing efforts opposing the project.
Council moderators and county staff kept the comment period tightly timed and reiterated that formal decision authority rests with the Missoula County consolidated land use board, not the town council. The county also encouraged residents to submit comments on Missoula County Voice and noted staff will publish a letter and the application materials once county analysis is complete.
