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The Midwest is becoming home to a growing number of data centers, including a large-scale facility proposed in Franklin Township. A site map of the project is shown on the right. In response, residents have launched a communitywide campaign, placing signs like the one above in their yards to voice opposition.
Graphic Illustration by Farrah Anderson, Photos courtesy of Protect FTAn Indianapolis hearing examiner recommended approval for a proposed data center campus on nearly 470 acres of land in southeast Marion County, despite concerns from Franklin Township residents about transparency, environmental impact and infrastructure limitations.
The plan — submitted by a Fortune 100 tech company that has not been publicly named — wants to rezone land in the township to build several data center buildings, which are used to store and process big amounts of data, largely needed because of a boom in artificial intelligence.
City-County Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, who represents the district where the data center has been proposed, read a statement at the public hearing before the Metropolitan Development Commission Hearing Examiner on Thursday.
WFYI previously reported that Hart had signed a nondisclosure agreement with the developer, which bars him from sharing information about the project, including the name of the tech company behind it.
At the hearing, Hart said he had to have his statement reviewed by an attorney before speaking, and ultimately said he could not support the data center proposal.
“We should not be locking up one of the largest remaining land opportunities in Franklin township for a project that offers limited jobs, reduced tax benefits and long-term restrictions on infrastructure growth,” Hart said.
Those in favor of data center development say they foster innovation and economic development in the state, and create jobs. And on the Franklin Township property, most residents and officials say it’s inevitable the land, which is designated as agricultural land, will be developed at some point.
At the public hearing, Joe Calderon, the attorney representing the company behind the data center, said his client is committed to paying for infrastructure updates, including landscaping, building a path or trail and dedicating a ‘No-build’ area on the site.
Now, the proposal will continue to the Metropolitan Development Commission, where they will vote to approve or deny the rezoning request.
After that vote, Councilor Hart — as the representative of the district where the data center is being proposed — may decide to hold a public hearing on the proposal before the entire City-County Council, which will vote on it.
To approve or reject the final proposal, at least 15 of the 25 council members need to vote. If they don’t reach that number — or if Hart doesn’t call for that public hearing — the Metropolitan Development Commission’s decision stands, according to the municipal code.
Brittany York, a resident of Franklin Township who lives next to the proposed site of the data center, said the community isn’t anti-development but it’s anti-data center.
“This is an extractive, zero-return development with no enduring value to the community,” York said.
“We can do better.”
Farrah Anderson is an investigative health reporter with WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. You can follow her on X at @farrahsoa or by email at fanderson@wfyi.org.
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