Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors quells fears of waterfront data center
The Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors voted 5-3 to terminate discussions with Global Stack USA regarding a proposed development that community members feared would lead to a data center. The decision followed over two hours of public opposition to any data center development on the fairgrounds' waterfront property.
The Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors voted 5-3 to end its memorandum of understanding with Global Stack USA, effectively stopping discussions for a proposed development on the fairgrounds' waterfront property. The project, which included a data processing facility, a vertiport, and a parking structure, faced strong community opposition.
Residents expressed concerns that the development would open the door to a future "water-thirsty" data center, a fear that was voiced during over two hours of public comment at the meeting. Global Stack USA CEO Dan Kang denied that the proposal was for a data center but conceded that the company was not against them. He also controversially suggested the crowd used ChatGPT for their research, which was met with jeers.
Board members Dan Long and Miriam Mack supported ending the discussions, citing worries about a century-long land lease and the potential loss of community support. Board President Guillermo Rodriguez Ceja Jr., Vice President Gloria Martinez, and board member Leah Lacayo opposed the termination, emphasizing the responsibility to explore revenue-generating proposals. Global Stack USA, an Orange County-based firm, aims to present similar projects at up to 70 fairgrounds across California.