Milwaukee City Plan Commission Tables Decision on Midtown Data Center
The Milwaukee City Plan Commission held a six-hour, heated meeting regarding a proposed 19,000 sq ft data center at the former Midtown Walmart site. The project, which also includes housing and a library, faced significant public opposition and the developer's lack of clear answers, leading the commission to table the decision without providing guidance for future action.
The Milwaukee City Plan Commission recently held a contentious, six-hour meeting to discuss a proposed 19,000-square-foot data center. This data center is part of a larger redevelopment project at the former Midtown Walmart site, which also includes affordable housing and a library. The project falls within a city-designated development incentive zone, meaning the final decision rests solely with the appointed City Plan Commission, rather than requiring common council approval.
Public opposition was vocal, with residents holding signs and expressing concerns about private property rights, noise, and the developer's potential profits. Trent Overhue, owner of Affordable Family Storage, who represented himself at the meeting, faced criticism for not providing specific examples or clear, direct answers to commissioners' questions regarding the data center's operations, particularly concerning noise. The Department of City Development had prepared 12 extensive conditions for approval related to sound and water, which were considered for addition.
Despite hours of testimony and a critical July 31st deadline for the affordable housing component to break ground, the Plan Commission made no decision. Instead, they tabled the proposal without providing specific guidance on how it could be unheld in the future. Further discussion is expected at another Plan Commission meeting in July, with anticipation of movement on the issue soon.