Sioux City officials clarify data center label on map ahead of stormwater study vote
Sioux City officials clarified that a "proposed data center" label on a map for a stormwater study was a misidentification of a potential future development idea, not an active project. The city council is set to vote on an agreement for a preliminary engineering study for a Regional Storm Water Detention Basin Program, which aims to plan infrastructure for future growth. There are currently no plans for a data center on the identified 720-acre parcel.
Sioux City officials have addressed concerns regarding a map that labeled a 720-acre parcel in the Morningside neighborhood as a "proposed data center" location. This clarification comes ahead of a Sioux City Council vote on a $67,204 agreement with HR Green, a civil engineering firm, to conduct a preliminary engineering study for a Regional Storm Water Detention Basin Program.
Thomas Pingel, Sioux City's Public Works Director, stated that the maps are created by the economic development team to identify potential future developments. However, City Council member Craig Bernstein confirmed that there is no active discussion about a data center. Marty Dougherty, Sioux City Economic and Community Development Director, admitted the parcel should not have been labeled as such, explaining it originated from a five-year-old Capital Improvement Project that flagged the site for its proximity to power lines. Dougherty emphasized there are no current plans for a data center.
The preliminary engineering study aims to proactively plan for storm water management by identifying optimal locations for regional detention basins before development begins. This strategy allows the city to collect funds from future developers to build strategic infrastructure, preventing issues like flooding. The land is currently owned by Peterson Farms LTD, whose family members indicated they plan to continue farming for the foreseeable future, having last discussed land use with the city approximately two years ago.