Hobart meeting on data centers brings large crowd, tight security and one arrest

The Hobart Plan Commission delivered unanimous approval for two separate site plans for data centers to be operated by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Hobart, Indiana. The first project, known as the Hobart Data Center Campus, will include six data centers and two ancillary buildings on 168 acres, located southeast of 61st Avenue and Arizona Street. The second, the Hobart Tech Park, will feature nine data centers and three ancillary buildings on 555 acres, situated south of 61st Avenue, east of Colorado Street, and north of 69th Avenue. The marathon-length meeting was marked by significant public opposition. A large, "raucous" crowd of residents, many wearing "No Amazon Data Centers" apparel, packed the courtroom and spoke out against the projects, raising concerns about local impact, including water and drainage issues. Despite the overwhelming sentiment against the projects, the Plan Commission voted 8-0 to approve both site plans following lengthy presentations and public comment periods. The contentious atmosphere led to heightened security and police presence. During the public hearings, two residents, Angelita Soriano and Pablo Payan, were removed from the meeting. Payan was subsequently arrested and charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct after he reportedly refused to leave the building when asked. Soriano was escorted out for exceeding her two-minute speaking limit but left peacefully. City officials confirmed that AWS would be the tenant for both tech parks, but developers will still need to return to the Hobart City Council and the Plan Commission for final plat approval and to address rezoning issues.