By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — The debate over whether to rezone 550 acres from agriculture to Industrial 3 that would have opened the door for a data center near Leesburg was rejected by the Kosciusko County Commissioners by a 3-0 vote on Tuesday morning.
The commissioners were given a unanimous recommendation against the rezoning from the area plan commission and heard more than an hour of debate Tuesday on the matter, for those and against.
The debate pitted whether to allow a massive data center that could generate upward of $30 million in tax revenue for the county against the desire by many residents to preserve the agricultural environment and way of life.
Many of those opposed to the plan said they were not opposed to the concept of a data center but were strongly opposed to the location, while the attorney for Prologis, Steve Snyder said the land northwest of Leesburg was the ideal location because of its proximity to a NIPSCO substation that connected three massive transmission lines.
He also discounted the idea offered by some that Prologis should find a new location and run electrical lines to it. He argued it would be expensive and incredibly time-consuming.
Snyder also pointed out that even if the rezoning was approved, the plan would still need approval for an exception by the county board of zoning appeals, which would review performance standards.
Attorney Jack Birch, representing those opposed to the rezoning, told the commissioners that the 8-0 Recommendation by the plan commission stood out as one of the most important considerations.
Two of the three commissioners, Cary Groninger and Sue Ann Mitchell, said they spent a lot of time researching the issue. They also said that otherwise they normally support economic development and business plans.
The location and public opinion seemed to carry a lot of weight.
“The rezoning of property should be denied because it’s not a reasonable and prudent location for this type of development,” Mitchell said.
“This unique, challenging project and the limitations and problems associated with the current proposed location have not been overcome by the petitioner. In light of these considerations, I concur with my fellow commissioners,” Groninger said.
Bob Conley echoed the words of Valparaiso’s mayor, where a similar plan was considered.
“Our citizens have spoken. Our area plan department has spoken, and now our county commissioners are speaking,” he said.
