Bristol residents fight to stop rezoning of land allowing potential data center
Residents in Bristol, Indiana, are actively opposing a land rezoning petition for a potential data center project. The Plan Commission voted to send the petition to the Bristol Town Council with an unfavorable recommendation, driven by public opposition and concerns like noise. The Town Council will make the final decision on August 6th.
Hundreds of Bristol, Indiana, residents gathered at a Plan Commission meeting in an Elkhart County church to voice strong opposition to a proposed rezoning for a potential data center project on a 957-acre site. The land is currently zoned for industrial use, meaning a data center could still proceed, but the petition sought a Detailed Planned Unit Development (DPUD) to add specific conditions and safeguards.
Residents, however, expressed complete disapproval of any data center development, citing concerns such as noise. Elkhart County Commissioner Brad Rogers also voted against the rezoning request, primarily due to public opposition and noise issues.
Following hours of public comment, the Plan Commission ultimately voted to send the rezoning petition to the Bristol Town Council with an unfavorable recommendation. This decision does not change the current zoning but forwards the matter to the Town Council, which is scheduled to make the final determination at its meeting on August 6th.