Urbana BZA denies appeal on proposed data center site plan

The Urbana Board of Zoning and Appeals (BZA) unanimously rejected an appeal filed by Thor Equities LLC, Urbana Investment Group LLC, and Highland Real Estate, thereby affirming the city's previous ruling that a proposed data center site plan application was incomplete. This decision effectively blocks the application from proceeding in its current state. The appeal originated from a February 13, 2026, submission by Choice One Engineering on behalf of Thor Equities for a data center project. City officials stated that Choice One representatives had indicated the application was not ready but was filed at the direction of legal counsel. City staff subsequently deemed it incomplete and suggested it might require major subdivision approval instead of just site plan approval. The applicants appealed this determination on March 20, citing impropriety and requesting the application be advanced to the planning commission. During the BZA hearing, an attorney for the applicants sought a continuance until May 11, citing insufficient notice and the board not being at full membership, which he argued raised due process concerns. However, city officials asserted that proper notice had been given, confirmed by several attending property owners. The BZA unanimously denied the continuance request, and the hearing proceeded with presentations from both sides and public comment. The board emphasized that the central issue was the application's completeness, not the project's merits. Following deliberation, the BZA voted unanimously to uphold the city staff's determination, rejecting the appeal. In response, Raj Vohra, Head of Digital Investments for Thor Equities, expressed the company's commitment to delivering economic benefits and technological investment to Urbana, promising annual contributions to local schools, police, fire services, and infrastructure.