Yorkville close to reaching settlement on resident’s lawsuit over 1,037 acre data center

A legal dispute surrounding the 1,037-acre Project Cardinal data center in Yorkville, Illinois, is progressing towards a settlement. Resident John Bryan filed a lawsuit against the City of Yorkville, citing concerns over potential negative impacts on property values and quality of life from the proposed data center campus, which is planned to feature 14 two-story warehouses over a decade or more. Developer Pioneer Development LLC was granted permission to join the case as a defendant. During a March 20 hearing at the Kendall County Courthouse, attorneys for all parties informed Judge Robert Pilmer that "substantial progress" has been made, with only minor issues remaining for the revised settlement agreement. The final agreement is contingent on approval from the Yorkville City Council. Details regarding a potential monetary amount or specific settlement terms have not been disclosed. The judge granted a continuance until April 10. The City of Yorkville had previously approved the necessary annexation, rezoning, and utility/infrastructure agreements to allow Project Cardinal to proceed. However, residents, including Bryan, have actively voiced their opposition at City Council meetings, with Bryan demonstrating expected noise pollution from the data center using a speaker. City officials have stated that data centers will be required to adhere to the city's noise ordinance levels, and a sound pollution study was commissioned by developers, though it excluded construction noise. Yorkville is planning for significant data center development, with 3,016 acres along the town's ComEd transmission station line off Eldamain Road slated for such projects, including Project Cardinal and the 502-acre Project Steel. City administrator Bart Olson anticipates the property deal for Project Cardinal to close this fall, pending full power allocation from ComEd.