Despite visible community opposition, a proposed 130-acre data center in Decatur Township cleared a key hurdle Thursday, moving one step closer to approval.

The recommendation follows months of pushback from residents who say the project would bring more industrial development to a neighborhood already burdened by environmental contamination.

They are urging Mayor Joe Hogsett to stop a proposed 14-acre data center ahead of a critical rezoning hearing Feb. 12.

A Metropolitan Development Commission examiner is scheduled to decide whether to recommend the rezoning request for approval on Feb. 12.

Residents of the historically Black neighborhood have pushed back for months against the proposed development from Metrobloks, a California-based data center developer.