Lawsuit filed over approval of CyrusOne data center project near Springfield
Residents have filed a lawsuit against Sangamon County and an LLC associated with CyrusOne, challenging the approval of a data center project near Waverly, Illinois. The suit alleges improper approval procedures and potential impacts on nearby farmland. County officials and the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance maintain that proper procedures were followed.
Residents have filed a lawsuit against Sangamon County, Illinois, and an LLC connected to CyrusOne, seeking to halt a data center construction project located near Waverly. The 150-page complaint, filed Monday by a Plainfield attorney on behalf of four plaintiffs, alleges that the Sangamon County Board's April resolution approving the conditional use permit was improperly dated and that the project, despite its approval, is subject to judicial review. The lawsuit further highlights potential negative impacts on nearby farmland and other properties.
Sangamon County Administrator Brian McFadden and Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance CEO Ryan McCrady both issued statements asserting that the county followed proper procedures in approving the CyrusOne project. They expressed confidence in the county's legal position and emphasized the anticipated economic benefits of the data center, including property tax revenues, job creation, and community support.
Attempts to reach CyrusOne for comment were unsuccessful. No court date has yet been scheduled for the litigation, which challenges the legality of the county's approval process for the significant development.