Mercer County residents and Shaker Village president oppose data center development
Residents in Burgin and Mercer County, Kentucky, are actively opposing a proposed data center development by American Farm Investors and JLL near the historic Shaker Village. A public meeting was held to discuss the project, and a petition with over 3,800 signatures has been submitted, citing environmental and historical preservation concerns.
A public meeting was held in Burgin, Kentucky, regarding a proposed data center development in Mercer County, attracting significant local opposition. Residents expressed concerns over the project's potential environmental impact on the area's ecosystem, karst topography, and water runoff, as well as its effect on the historic Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, located just two miles from the proposed site.
Billy Rankin, President of Shaker Village, voiced strong opposition, highlighting the historical significance of the land, which has been home to Shakers and thoroughbreds for over 200 years. He also expressed worry about the City of Burgin's lack of a zoning and planning department, fearing it could grant developers undue control over the community's future.
The development involves a partnership between American Farm Investors and real estate group JLL, which has purchased ten farming properties near Bailey Pike and the Shaker Village area. In response to the development plans, a petition has garnered over 3,800 signatures from residents seeking to halt data center construction in Mercer County.