Judge dismisses Hobart data center challenge

Lake Superior Court Judge Bruce Parent dismissed a case brought by a group of Hobart residents, including Angelita Soriano, Albina Venegas-Roman, Barbara Koteles, and Joseph Conn, who sought a preliminary injunction to halt a fill permit for a 168-acre site designated for a future Amazon data center. The judge's ruling was based on procedural grounds, stating that the plaintiffs had not exhausted other administrative remedies before seeking the injunction, and thus the court lacked jurisdiction. Soriano expressed disappointment with the ruling but noted that the judge confirmed the plaintiffs' standing and acknowledged the merit of their presented evidence, refuting arguments from the city, Hobart Owner LLC, Tuhaus LLC, and Amazon Data Services. The residents' initial lawsuit, filed in December, aimed to vacate actions by Hobart city officials, including the Hobart City Council and Plan Commission, which they claim violated due process rights and paved the way for the data center on farmland. Undeterred, the plaintiffs announced a second lawsuit targeting city officials' actions from January 7, which included the approval of a $47 million contribution from Amazon to the city. Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun lauded this payment as "record breaking," with additional payments expected upon the issuance of building permits and construction milestones. The residents are now preparing to challenge a second, larger fill permit covering 605 acres in court.