Hermantown begins new downsized site review for data center

Hermantown city officials have announced a 30-day public comment period for an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) related to a proposed Google data center campus. The project, which has seen its prospective development site reduced from 403 acres to 278 acres, is planned for the southwest corner of the community. Harmony Group LLC has been acquiring land on behalf of Google for the data center, the details of which were previously under nondisclosure agreements until Google's public announcement in early March. The facility is expected to be constructed in phases and could reach up to 1.8 million square feet upon full development. The project continues to be a source of controversy and is subject to an ongoing legal dispute. Hermantown and Google representatives have jointly agreed to an updated AUAR study to provide greater specificity regarding potential environmental impacts and mitigation plans. Comments can be submitted online or via mail to Community Development Director Eric Johnson until April 30.