Monticello Tech submits data center application
Monticello Tech has submitted a formal application for a large-scale data center project to the City of Monticello, triggering a formal review process. The application, which includes requests for rezoning and permits, will undergo staff review before public hearings. This development proceeds amidst an ongoing lawsuit by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy challenging the city's broader environmental review for data center development.
Monticello Tech has officially submitted an application for a significant data center campus in Monticello, Minnesota, a move confirmed by City Administrator Rachel Leonard. The application, which was received just before a July 6 deadline, paves the way for potential consideration by the Planning Commission in early August, followed by City Council review. However, the timeline is contingent on city staff determining the application's completeness and conducting a thorough technical review, given the project's potential impacts on utilities, traffic, and infrastructure.
The proposed development envisions a multi-building industrial complex on approximately 500 acres south of 85th Street NE and east of Highway 25. Key requests within the application are expected to include rezoning to a Data Center Planned Unit Development district, a preliminary plat, and a conditional use permit. Following a determination of completeness, the proposal will enter a formal public review phase, incorporating hearings and opportunities for community input.
This submission occurs concurrently with an ongoing lawsuit initiated earlier this year by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. The lawsuit challenges the City of Monticello's environmental review processes pertaining to potential data center developments. Despite the legal challenge, city officials have affirmed that the lawsuit does not impede the progress of individual data center applications like the one submitted by Monticello Tech.