Opponents readying to fight proposed South Elgin data center
A proposed 20-acre data center in South Elgin, Illinois, by Whiterose Partners and Kenyon Brothers Co., is facing significant public opposition, with over 4,700 signatures on an online petition. Residents are concerned about its proximity to homes and schools, as well as its substantial electricity and water demands. The project, which requires annexation and zoning changes, is scheduled for review by the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 19 after an initial postponement due to parking concerns.
A proposal for a 20-acre data center in South Elgin, Illinois, is heading to the village's Planning and Zoning Commission for review next month, drawing significant opposition from local residents.
The project, put forward by Whiterose Partners and Kenyon Brothers Co., a Dallas-based developer and property owner, seeks to annex the northwest corner of Kenyon Road and Route 25 into the village. This would also require a zoning change from agriculture to industrial and the issuance of a special use permit for the 200,000-square-foot facility.
South Elgin resident Anthony Saccomanno initiated an online petition opposing the data center, which has gathered over 4,700 signatures from residents of Elgin, South Elgin, and Bartlett. Saccomanno, who presides over a homeowner's association adjacent to the proposed site, voiced concerns about the facility's proximity to residential areas and schools, as well as its high electricity and water consumption. The developer's power request to ComEd for 48 megawatts of utility power, sufficient to power thousands of homes, has been a major point of contention. While documents submitted to the village state the data center would use 247 to 342 gallons of water per day with a closed-loop cooling system, Saccomanno highlights the fragile water system on South Elgin's east side.
The Planning and Zoning Commission's conceptual plan review was initially postponed due to parking concerns and is now slated for August 19. Saccomanno remains committed to raising awareness among village officials about the widespread opposition.