Rezoning request withdrawn for Hoffman Estates data center
Karis Critical, the owner of the 186-acre Plum Farms property in Hoffman Estates, has withdrawn its request to rezone the site for a potential data center. This decision came after significant community opposition and a request for the Illinois Attorney General to investigate the Village Board for potential Open Meetings Act violations. The withdrawal means any future development proposal would need to start the rezoning process from the beginning.
Karis Critical, owner of the 186-acre Plum Farms property in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, has withdrawn its rezoning request for a site where a data center was potentially planned. The property, located at Higgins Road and Route 59, was previously seeking a manufacturing use designation, which would have allowed for data center construction.
Hoffman Estates Village Manager Eric Palm confirmed the withdrawal, which removed the decision from the agenda of an upcoming village board meeting where strong opposition was anticipated. Patrick Skarr, a spokesman for Karis Critical, stated the company "heard the feedback clearly" and would take time to develop a more specific plan before resubmitting any future rezoning proposals. The current withdrawal nullifies the original request, requiring Karis Critical to restart the entire process if it pursues development.
This action follows a week of protests from area residents in Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills, and South Barrington. Additionally, Barrington Hills resident Amanda Pollard filed a request for the Illinois Attorney General to investigate whether the Hoffman Estates Village Board violated the Open Meetings Act. Pollard's complaint was based on emails suggesting a specific data center plan was being prepared, contradicting the landowner's public claims that the rezoning was for general industrial use. While Pollard expressed satisfaction with the withdrawal, she plans to proceed with her request for an attorney general investigation, believing the village did not act properly. Mayor Bill McLeod denied any Open Meetings Act violations by board members, distinguishing between village staff interactions and the board's official decisions.