Bradley County faces self-funded legal costs in data center zoning lawsuit
Bradley County, Tennessee, is defending a lawsuit filed by the developer of the proposed Project MidSpan data center near Walker Valley High School. The county’s insurer will not cover its legal costs, but County Mayor Gary Davis says officials will continue challenging the lawsuit over recently approved data center zoning restrictions.
Bradley County is facing potentially self-funded legal expenses in a lawsuit involving Project MidSpan, a proposed data center planned on roughly 300 acres near Walker Valley High School. The New York-based capital development group that owns the property paid nearly $20 million for the 306-acre site in April 2025 and is challenging zoning changes approved by the county.
The proposed facility would be about 1,700 feet from the school, while county rules require a 3,000-foot separation. Developers have proposed a 20-foot-deep evergreen and cedar buffer, but the company has asked a judge to prevent the county from enforcing the restrictions. County Mayor Gary Davis told the Bradley County Commission that the county’s insurance provider will not pay the lawsuit-related legal bills, though the county plans to continue its defense.