Proposed data center in Indy’s Franklin Township sparks community debate
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was a packed house at the Franklin Township Civic League for a meeting to discuss a proposed data center in the southeast corner of Indianapolis.
The nearly 468 acres of land will be off of I-74 and Post Road. The identity of the buyer is still unknown. The paperwork is filed under Deep Meadows LLC.
The land is currently zoned as “DA” (Dwelling Agriculture District), “C-4” (Community-Regional District) and “SU43” (Power Transmission Lines).
News 8 obtained paperwork filed on behalf of the petitioners that asks for the land to be rezoned to “C-S” (Commercial – Special District).
The league invited Joe Calderon, an attorney from business law firm Barnes and Thornburg, to present to the community. He is representing the buyers.
Calderon said:
It’s a reflection of what the comprehensive plan suggests for this site so we’re going to do the very best we can to mitigate concerns that any of you have about the impact of this development.
The meeting, organized by the Franklin Township Civic League Land Use & Zoning Committee, was the first step in the rezoning process.
It aimed to address community concerns about the development.
Michael-Paul Hart, City-County Council Republican minority leader, said the meeting left him with unanswered questions.
Hart said:
There was a lot of unknown pieces of information. That was my biggest takeaway,
“I think the petitioners have quite a bit of work to do especially on the financial side of the discussion to how it’s going to impact not only the city of Indianapolis but also the eastside and Franklin Township as well.”
Most of the community questions raised potential concerns about the data center ranging from noise to environmental.
Angie Bousenburg, who lives in the area, said:
Data centers use an incredibly high amount of energy, electricity,
“They use quite a bit of water. I’m also concerned about the waste, the waste water that’s coming out after it’s been used.”
There were a handful of people there who were in favor of the data center.
News 8 spoke to one of the land owners. His land is under contract pending the zoning change. He declined to comment for this story.
The Marion County Land Use Plan lays out a long term plan for future uses of land across the City-County.
The Franklin Township map has parts of the land labeled four ways: Regional commercial, industrial reserve, office/industrial mixed-use, and rural or estate neighborhood.
There will be another community meeting on April 2 at the Civic League building. Calderon said he would be there if invited.
After that, the rezoning petition will be heard by the Metropolitan Development Commission Hearing Examiner. The Civic League plans to file a continuance to move that hearing to May 15.
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Proposed data center in Indy’s Franklin Township sparks community debate, source
