Harrington denies data center proposal despite a $1M offer
The Harrington City Council unanimously denied a proposal from developer Maguire Hayden to change zoning codes to allow a data center, despite a $1 million offer. The decision followed strong public opposition from approximately 100 residents concerned about electricity and environmental impacts. The council's vote prompted calls for a city-wide ban on data centers.
The Harrington City Council unanimously rejected a proposed zoning code amendment that would have allowed data centers in manufacturing zones, specifically preventing developer Maguire Hayden from building a data center on a former cold storage warehouse site. The decision came despite Maguire Hayden's offer of $1 million in community benefits to the city. The council meeting saw an unprecedented turnout of about 100 residents, with every attendee raising their hand against the proposal, citing concerns about potential impacts on electricity bills and the local environment.
Vice Mayor Darrin Simpson also called for a city-wide ban on data centers, though this measure was not further discussed by the council. The developer's attorney, John Paradee, indicated that Maguire Hayden no longer has plans for the site following the vote. This rejection in Harrington aligns with a broader trend of increasing local opposition to data center developments across Delaware, including recent regulatory actions by the Delaware legislature, New Castle County Council, and Kent County Levy Court to address environmental and energy concerns. Nearby Dover city leaders also recently advanced a proposed moratorium on data centers.