Hermantown City Council Discusses Data Center

The Hermantown City Council faced public backlash Monday night as councilors voted 4 to 1 to amend the city's 2045 Comprehensive Plan. This amendment expands the urban service boundary, designating new areas for urban development and aiming to extend sewer and water services to the Adolph neighborhood. City leaders assert this change was necessary because the current Urban Service Boundary (USB) does not align with the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District's (WLSSD) plan, and would have been done regardless of the proposed Google data center.

However, residents, including Peter Hafften from Solway Township and members of the "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" group, questioned the timing and implications of the amendment. They raised concerns about how the sewer and water extension would affect their homes and potential tax impacts on those in the expansion area. Opponents claim that the city improperly changed zoning in the Adolph neighborhood, linking the amendment directly to the Google project despite official denials.

The "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" group has filed a lawsuit against Hermantown, seeking to compel the city to vacate from the comprehensive plan, arguing the zoning changes were improperly executed. Conversely, "YES MN," composed of building trade members, expressed support for the city leaders, viewing the expansion of municipal services as a "common sense" move that prepares the city for the future.

Following the council's vote, the amended plan will be submitted to WLSSD to ensure their plan mirrors Hermantown's, with an update expected sometime this summer.