Burgin City Council votes to rejoin joint planning commission amid data center debate in Mercer County
Burgin City Council voted to rejoin the joint planning and zoning commission, giving the city greater control over Panattoni's proposed 950-acre Project Bluegrass data center development in Mercer County. The council also voted not to consider annexation until Burgin is part of the commission, amid concerns about runoff, noise, construction and impacts on farmland.
The Burgin City Council voted 2-2 to rejoin the joint planning and zoning commission, with Mayor Joseph Monroe casting the deciding vote. The move is intended to give Burgin more authority over the proposed 950-acre Project Bluegrass data center development by Panattoni.
The council also voted not to consider annexation until Burgin joins the commission. Nearby farm operators, including Leigh Humphrey of Shawnee Farm, raised concerns about runoff, noise, infrastructure and effects on agriculture and animals, while Lexington entrepreneur Lamar Wilson said the project could provide long-term economic benefits. The decision follows Mercer County Fiscal Court's rejection of an ordinance that would have permitted data centers in the county.