Munster postpones discussion on data center proposal for country club property
The Munster Plan Commission postponed a decision on a data center proposal by Saxon Partners for a property at Kenmara Technology Park until a public hearing in July. Residents expressed strong opposition regarding noise, water usage, and perceived lack of adequate regulation in the proposed unified development ordinance. The commission also deferred voting on the UDO, which currently lacks specific regulations for data centers.
The Munster Plan Commission has postponed discussions on a proposed data center for the Kenmara Technology Park until a public hearing scheduled for July 14. The commission voted 6-0 to defer the decision regarding the inclusion of a data center in the town's master plan, as requested by developer Saxon Partners. Concurrently, the commission unanimously voted to defer a vote on a unified development ordinance (UDO) that aims to streamline zoning and subdivision regulations, which currently lacks specific provisions for data centers.
Residents living near the former Lansing Country Club property, where the data center is proposed, voiced significant opposition and concerns during the meeting. Christine Clarahan raised issues about potential noise pollution, inadequate penalties for rule-breaking businesses, and the monitoring of water quality. Noah LaPorte, a commercial real estate professional, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the UDO's insufficient protections for residents regarding water reclamation and potential increases in electricity bills.
Other residents, including former Environmental Club leader Cavin McNulty and 13-year-old Evan Hufford, expressed opposition to the project's impact on jobs and future quality of life. Debby and Daniel Albrecht, who live a half-mile from the site, shared concerns about noise from data centers and associated generators, along with rising water bills, expressing a preference for the project to have been rejected outright. The deferrals by the Plan Commission have not entirely appeased the concerned residents.