Edgerton approves data center over planning commission’s rejection and residents’ objections
The Edgerton City Council unanimously approved an $860 million data center project by DAMAC Digital, overriding the planning commission's denial. This decision has caused some residents to lose trust in their elected officials, especially after the council also rejected a proposed six-month moratorium on data centers. The project still requires final plat approval from the planning commission and city council.
The Edgerton City Council recently voted unanimously to approve an $860 million data center project by Dubai-based DAMAC Digital, overriding a prior denial by the city's planning commission. The project is slated for the Logistics Park Kansas City warehouse at 31800 W. 196th St.
This decision has drawn criticism from local residents, including Kim Twente of the Public Trust Collective, who expressed disappointment and a loss of trust in the city council, stating they ignored citizen pleas against the project. The city council's override on July 16 followed a June 15 vote where they denied a proposed six-month moratorium on data centers, which would have temporarily halted new applications.
The planning commission had initially rejected DAMAC's application in June, citing non-compliance with a city code requiring underground fuel storage tanks for backup generators. However, Charles Renner, DAMAC's representative, clarified at the special city council meeting that the fuel tanks would indeed be underground, asserting the planning commission's denial was based on a non-existent problem. Despite the city council's approval, DAMAC Digital still needs to secure final plat approval, which will go before the Edgerton Planning Commission in August and subsequently the city council.