Decatur Township data center proposal approved by Indianapolis development commission

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission has given final approval for a data center campus to be built on approximately 130 acres in Decatur Township, near IN-67 and Camby Road. This decision follows an hours-long meeting that concluded with a vote to approve the plan, despite months of debate. During the meeting, the petitioner, identified as Sabi, presented their case while the group "Protect Decatur Township" argued against the proposal. Residents expressed significant concerns over quality of life, including noise, potential health impacts, and the project's effect on land values. Developers reportedly committed to measures such as low sound operations, upgrades to the electrical grid, and a closed-loop water system to address these environmental and community concerns. Proponents of the data center highlighted the economic benefits and job creation it would bring to central Indiana, emphasizing both initial construction and long-term employment due to evolving technology. A key procedural point was that the land was already zoned as light industrial, meaning the project did not require a rezoning vote by the City-County Council; the Development Commission had the final authority. However, residents contended that the proposed modifications to the industrial classification were so extensive that they effectively constituted a rezoning. Following the commission's approval, "Protect Decatur Township" announced their intention to pursue judicial review, stating that the "legal fight is just beginning" and signaling ongoing opposition to the project. Alex Almanzo reported on the meeting for WTHR.