Data center developer drops proposal after losing Yorkville City Council support

Residents in Yorkville, Illinois, applauded after Mayor John Purcell announced that developers behind a proposed 80-acre data center near the Caledonia subdivision have withdrawn their plans. The decision came after the Yorkville City Council signaled a lack of support for the project, following its unanimous rejection by the city’s planning and zoning committee. The proposal, from Yorkville Nexus V LLC and Green Door Capital, had previously been downsized in response to resident pushback, but these changes were insufficient to secure council approval. Mayor Purcell stated that the City Council now has "no more appetite" for additional data center proposals beyond the three large projects already approved, including the 1,034-acre Project Cardinal, the 540-acre Project Steel, and a 228-acre CyrusOne data center. This marks a significant shift for Yorkville, which had initially considered approximately 3,000 acres for data center development along the Eldamain Corridor, encompassing numerous proposals. The withdrawal and the city's change in stance are a direct result of sustained and vocal public opposition. Residents have staged protests, attended lengthy council meetings to voice frustrations, and hired an attorney to combat future data center approvals. State Rep. Jed Davis also reported polling showing overwhelming resident opposition. While the Mayor clarified the city cannot legally prevent future applications, the council's message is clear: they have approved what they are willing to approve for now. Purcell defended the approval of earlier projects, citing benefits to the community such as infrastructure improvements funded by developers and significant upfront payments totaling around $91 million. He dismissed allegations of under-the-table payments as "slander." Proponents argue data centers offer substantial annual tax revenues, diversify the tax base, and have minimal water usage compared to residential developments, helping to offset school costs. However, residents like Caryn Macek expressed distrust, urging the council to prioritize residents over "billion-dollar interests."