After a nearly three-hour meeting, primarily consisting of testimonials from remonstrators, the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission unanimously denied a rezoning request for a data center west of Leesburg.
Local attorney Steve Snyder, representing Murphy Place, Timothy Polk and Polk Family Farms, presented a petition to rezone 554 acres of farmland to an Industrial-3 district during the Wednesday meeting.
Prologis, a real estate company operating in several markets in the Midwest, was identified as the company seeking to build a data center on the land, which is on the north side of CR 700N, west of CR 300W in Prairie and Jefferson townships.
The meeting room for the APC was already at maximum capacity 20 minutes prior to the meeting's start. Those unable to sit in the room were asked to watch the livestream at the Purdue Extension office nearby. Multiple attendees wore brightly-colored caps and patches to show their opposition toward the data center.
Prior to discussions, APC Director Matt Sandy said the proposal received a Land Evaluation and Site Assessment score of 330. He said a score of 260 or higher usually results in a "do not rezone" recommendation.
In his request on behalf of the petitioners, Snyder said one proposed voluntary ordinance would be the real estate only be used for a data center. He noted the location was of interest to Prologis because of three transmission lines diverging onto the property. Kosciusko REMC would be the electric utility for the center. Snyder also noted Prologis requires a relatively flat area to build the data center, an aspect the acreage offers.
With water being used as a cooling mechanism, Snyder said the center would use roughly 40,000 gallons of water a day with all its buildings. About 36,000 would go toward the center itself, with 4,000 being for employee/general facility use. He told the APC about 47 million gallons of water a year is currently used toward irrigating the property, averaging around 128,000 gallons a day.
Snyder also said the center would more than likely connect to a sewer line that runs from Leesburg to Warsaw. The earliest tax revenue generated by the data center would be in 2029, with Prologis estimating the county would receive $35.8 million in tax revenue by the end of a 20-year period.
"If I had my choice of a solar farm or wind farm (in my backyard), I'd take a data center over those any day," said Snyder. "It's not really as visible and it doesn't require the constant attention in the form of traffic in and out, every day, other than the employees working."
The data center was estimated to support 300 employees.
Four people spoke in support of Prologis' data center, including local business representatives and Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Peggy Friday.
Dalton Caley, KREMC's director of business development, said the project will benefit all members and that it went through an extensive evaluation process with advisors and legal counsel. He also noted rates would not increase for customers and that reliability issues would not occur. With the current transmission lines, Caley said it was the only site KREMC had that could support the project.
"This potential investment could significantly enhance our schools, roads and infrastructure, public safety services and other essential community resources," said Friday. "The ag community has witnessed firsthand how technology has transformed farming and continues to shape agriculture. If we want to remain competitive, attract young talent, create opportunities for future generations, we need to have the right technologies for agriculture, industry and education."
Twenty people in attendance spoke against the data center, including local farmers and neighbors who live near the acreage in question. Sandy said the commission received over 15 emails and letters in remonstrance, and also received phone calls in opposition to the project.
Local attorney Jack Birch spoke on behalf of multiple local farmers and organizations, including Clunette Elevator, Stookey Farms and Templin Farms.
"You've got a technical committee," said Birch to the APC. "They're the experts for the experts. Their evaluation came back with a LESA score of 330. Take that into consideration. I've never seen one that high."
Birch, along with multiple remonstrators, reflected on the county's comprehensive plan and its statements on preserving local farmland.
"This project has an impact on all the other tracts around it," said Birch.
Birch said the closest industrial zone to the proposed data center is Clunette Elevator itself, which is in an I-2 district, but used for agricultural purposes. He also noted a lot of individuals he talked to are not opposed entirely to a data center in Kosciusko County, but were mainly concerned about the location being eyed for it.
"We're providing crops, food for people, an economic benefit from the standpoint of Clunette Elevator," said Birch. "Ag is a huge industry ... once we start taking acreage out of production, the impact is amazing. Once we take it out, we're not getting it back. This is currently new technology. Is a data center something we're going to need in 20 years? Maybe? I don't know. Did we use the same technology 25 years ago? Is our internet still dial-up? Why would we look at a shiny new object that may or may not be the future, when we have a historic basis for our farming community. We can still have this, but in a proper location without losing what we already have."
Beth Lamb, along with other individuals, discussed the impact of spot zoning, where land is zoned for a use different from that of surrounding properties.
"'Although known growth and development is encouraged within this comprehensive plan, the protection and preservation of existing agricultural land uses in Kosciusko County should also take a priority,'" said Lamb, citing the county's comprehensive plan. "In my mind, if you vote for this heavy industrial spot zoning, and you're only looking at the proverbial pot of gold at the end of these transmission lines, then you failed the test."
Robert Kelly, who resides on CR 600N, questioned why an Industrial-3 district would be considered in a heavily agricultural area.
"We feel this is discrimination against our current ordinances and residential areas where we currently live," said Kelly. "The families in this community ... should be considered when we look at these things. Is it the nature to prioritize the investment of a real estate company in California, or to the residents here and our land as agricultural to provide the food and fuel for our everyday lives?"
Kourtney VanCleave, who resides within miles of the site, expressed concerns on dealing with years of construction, pollution and noise.
"That land should be preserved for the quality of life and the entirety of Kosciusko County as promised in the comprehensive plan," said VanCleave. "Our land is seen as expendable and affordable (by Prologis). Families who have lived here for generations deserve more than to see their property values plummet and their quality of life destroyed because of corporate encroachment."
Geraldine Stookey said she was adamantly opposed to rezoning the property. She said her family and most of the farmers in the area did not know about the data center until they received letters from the APC.
"The Stookey family has owned land in Prairie Township for over 150 years," said Stookey. "My late husband and I worked very hard to acquire our land. His quote was, 'Don't sell any of the land because they don't make any more.' I have turned down numerous offers to sell or lease our land for any use other than agricultural ... I've had many offers by solar companies in the last five years, they were lucrative offers. But this is farmland. There will be 554 acres under concrete that will never be reclaimed. Anybody that is for this rezoning, I feel shame on you."
Hayden Stookey, a high school student and FFA member, said he felt it was important to advocate for the future of agriculture.
"Without the hard work of farmers, our way of life would not exist," said Hayden. "Kosciusko County plays a vital role in feeding our growing nation. Indiana right now is the ninth-largest agricultural state in the country. If we allow this land to be rezoned, we will be setting a dangerous precedent. It's about irreversible loss of farmland across Indiana. In a few short years, thousands of acres will be lost to industrialization. When the farmland is gone, so is the livelihood of our farmers, the strength of our rural communities, and the ability to feed our nation."
Jared Templin listed the names of multiple local farming families who have been in the area since the 1800s that remain farmers to this day.
"These families developed this area through hard work, trust and mutual respect," said Templin. "They were and are good stewards of the land. I urge everyone to take a serious look at the comprehensive plan. Keep your promises. Keep agriculture. Keep small-town."
Monica Miller, an area resident, said she felt the data center was an encroachment on farmers' identities.
"My granddaughter told me the other day, 'Grandma, this is my favorite place in the whole world,'" said Miller. "And I know they're looking forward to looking at the stars this summer and watching fireworks. And I dread having to tell my grandchildren that I can't turn off the bright lights to watch the falling stars."
Brian Smith cited a Wall Street Journal article that discussed the lack of jobs data centers actually create.
"There was a huge data center in Texas," said Smith. "It was told to the public that it would create 1,500 jobs. It only created 100. That's 1/15 of what was promised to the community. Please do not sell out our prime farmland for 20 jobs."
Mark Clary brought up a friend of his who resides near a data center in Indianapolis.
"Their water pressure has dropped significantly," said Clary. "Sewer doesn't work properly. There's a lot of noise, and they would like to move, but the property value has increased enough, they'd be under water on their mortgage. I don't see this as a very good thing."
Following all comments, APC President Lee Harman said the commission had read the letters in remonstrance, completed significant research and spent a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the topic.
"There's an uncertainty of the magnitude of this that could affect the APC for years to come," said Harman. "I found a definition of spot zoning and ran it past Matt Sandy, who said it was pretty legit. Spot zoning is the rezoning of land within a larger zone area, often at odds with the master plan and current zoning restrictions. I don't care if it's 10 or 500 (acres) ... if it's that, that's an example in my mind of spot zoning."
Harman said he was also unsure of the future of data centers.
"A usage such as this is going to alter that area for as far as I can see into the future," said Harman.
The APC's denial will now go before the Kosciusko County Commissioners for a final decision at their April 22 meeting.