City requests further details on data center proposal
Evanston city staff have determined a proposed data center at 1265 Hartrey Ave. does not meet current zoning regulations and requires a text amendment, requesting more information from the applicant. The proposal faces resident opposition, and Mayor Daniel Biss suggested a moratorium on data center construction. An official announcement is expected at an upcoming City Council meeting.
The City of Evanston, Illinois, has requested additional information from an unnamed applicant regarding a proposed data center at 1265 Hartrey Ave., after city staff determined the initial application did not meet existing zoning regulations. The proposal, filed on September 16, was deemed "limited" and would necessitate a text amendment to the city code for approval.
The data center plan has already sparked local opposition, with residents expressing concerns at a 2nd Ward meeting. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss has also publicly suggested that the city consider implementing a moratorium on data center construction to manage the rapid pace of artificial intelligence development, citing AI as a "truly unique threat."
City staff are scheduled to make a formal announcement about the data center proposal at the upcoming City Council meeting on Monday. This ongoing situation reflects broader discussions in the Chicago area regarding the transparency and impact of AI data center developments.