Kingston annexation public hearing draws heavy crowd
Kingston residents strongly opposed a proposed 350,000-square-foot data center during the first public hearing on Thor Equities' request to annex about 561 acres. The Kingston Unified Zoning Board recommended denying the annexation, and the City Council is scheduled to vote on the request Nov. 2.
Kingston City Council held a heavily attended public hearing on Thor Equities' request to annex roughly 561 acres for the proposed Kingston Technology Hub, which would include an approximately 350,000-square-foot data center. Thor Equities Executive Vice President Greg Berman defended the project, addressing concerns about cooling chemicals, property values, historic preservation and water supply. He said the facility would use a closed-loop cooling system with propylene glycol and obtain water from the county system rather than on-site wells.
Residents Dan Fabry, Paul Muir, Alan Ginn and others argued that the project could threaten wells, waterways, wildlife and property values. Community members distributed anti-data-center materials, and police twice removed Ginn after he interrupted the hearing. The Kingston Unified Zoning Board unanimously recommended denial of the annexation on Oct. 15, while the City Council took no action at the Oct. 26 hearing and scheduled a final vote for Nov. 2.