Signs waved, cheers and applause rang out, and people made sure their voices were heard during Thursday’s planning commission meeting.
More than 100 people filled the W.G. Smith Building for a public hearing about development in the northwest corner of the Interstate 70 and State Road 109 interchange. The 585-acre site could eventually be home to a data center.
Uniformed members of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office provided security at the event, and at least one member of the planning commission was carrying their personal firearm.
Thursday’s public hearing included 30 minutes for people against the project to share their opinions and ask questions. The meeting also included 30 minutes for people speaking in support of the project; those comments will be included in an upcoming edition of The Courier- Times.
Neighbor concerns
Several speakers told the planning commission members to listen to the people of Knightstown, people who were saying they do not want a data center in their community.
Kylie Blaylock’s family owns property next to the potential technology park site.
Her biggest concern was about water. She wanted to know how developing nearly 600 acres would impact the topography of the area, drainage and long-term water availability.
“The plan presented provides no parameters for water use, no caps, no details on how much water will be required to build or operate the system,” Blaylock said. “Essentially, no guarantees or limits at all, making it impossible to truly weigh the cost and benefits.”
Blaylock was also concerned that increased property values in the area would increase assessed values and, therefore, increase property tax bills for everyone else. She also worried that electricity rates would go up for neighbors.
“You’re putting more burden on residents, not helping us,” she said. “That’s a loss you can’t measure in dollars.”
Dean Thomas lives a quarter-mile from the proposed technology park. Thomas started a petition against a Henry County data center. He told the planning commission he has collected more than 1,700 signatures from people who feel the same way.
“We keep talking about how great everything could be. And what they forget to talk about is what could not be great,” Thomas said. “If it’s great, I’m all for it. But I don’t feel that we’re getting all the info.”
Thomas asked about studies that show what potential impact a data center would have on a rural community like southwestern Henry County.
“This may be a really good thing. Maybe a really bad thing. But we don’t know what it’s going to do to our county,” he said. “Until we have information on that, I think it would be really foolish to approve anything, quite frankly.”
Justin Lynch told the planning commission that Knightstown is more than just the place where he and his family live.
“It’s part of who we are,” he said.
Lynch said the Knightstown community had heard a lot of promises over the years and heard more promises Thursday evening.
“Promises that a new development would lower our taxes, that our roads would be paved, that our town will grow stronger,” he said. “But too often those promises have just been that: promises.”
Lynch said even though one of the developers lives in Henry County, he doesn’t live near where the technology park would go.
“The truth is, this isn’t about progress, it’s about profit,” Lynch said.
“I don’t fear change,” he continued. “I know we need growth, and I know we need to keep up financially, but growth has to be done the right way, in a way that strengthens Knightstown, not just benefits developers and landowners or boosts county revenue.”
Lynch’s main concern was that a data center would destroy farmland and change the character of Knightstown.
Kevin Littlejohn worried how winds would carry new greenhouse gasses from the data center to other comminutes, such as Spiceland and New Castle. He also asked the planning commission to consider why Marion County communities had rejected plans for data centers in their areas.
Lynn Dudley, reading a letter from her husband, shared their family’s concerns about how rezoning that property for industrial use would change how they can enjoy their own home nearby.
Robert Gion asked if any of the planning commissioners had visited an existing data center and spoken to people living near them.
“Are these data centers actually backing up the utopia they have promised?” he asked.
He suggested a moratorium on the situation until all the voting members had a better understanding of the potential long-term effects of such a development.
Gion also told the planning commission members they could be named in lawsuits if a data center hurt its neighbors.
“If this data center should turn out to be a very negative effect... for business, for residents and other, ignorance is not an excuse,” he said. “So if litigation should come forward down the road, it’ll be for those who are responsible.”
Cody Smith referred the planning commission members to the Henry County Comprehensive Plan. Smith said the comprehensive plan requires that development of the I-70/Ind. 109 should maintain and enhance the county’s rural image.
“I think everyone here knows that a 580-acre data center campus is totally the opposite of what the comprehensive plan recommends for this area,” he said.
John Bell told the county planners that he move to Henry County to get away from the commercial and industrial development in western Hancock County
“It’s a poison. It’s cancer,” he said.
Shirley resident Gabriel Davis told the planning commission that data centers, like the one planned, are often used by artificial intelligence (AI) companies. AI technology is a threat to entry-level and low-skilled jobs, jobs which are often held by young people.
“The direction of AI is automation. The automation of jobs,” Davis said. “This is not going to benefit any youth. This is going to take away from youth.”
“Do we really want to be supporting that when we spoke on supporting our rural community?” he asked.
Randy Kimmerly, who has a multi-generational farm and business, warned that building a data center in rural Henry County could open a Pandora’s box that the community will not be able to shut.
Kimmerly also noted that the plan being considered now could be changed later, like all county ordinances.
“I would just ask that you would listen to the people. Listen to us. Because we are the ones that are trying to build,” he said. “Is this really going to bring in and be effective for small businesses? No. It’s going to bring in small business. It’s not going to help small businesses. It’s going to take away and its going to detract.”
Shawn Dent said a data center might be a good thing for Henry County, but it might not be. He wondered where the employees would come from, if Knightstown residents didn’t have the necessary skills or qualifications.
“What’s in it for us?” he asked.
Former Henry County resident Eddie Hagar told the planning commission that he make a living fighting planned unit developments (PUDs), like the one they are considering.
“You guys have no idea what’s coming down the pipeline,” he said. “You guys do not have the knowledge to fight this. To just simply govern it in the development side of it. You do not have the knowledge that it takes to even know what you’re looking for for a PUD.”
Planning commission responses
After public comments, the planning commission members had time to respond.
“First of all, I found out tonight that I’m stupid,” member Dale Cole said, referring to Hager’s comments. “I’m 91 years old and it took me that long to find someone to tell me I’m stupid.”
Cole acknowledged that the topic of data centers is new to him. He asked that the planning commission table its decision for one month on the technology park outline plan so they could all gather more information. The motion passed 6-2.
Planning Commission President Marsha Gratner asked the office staff to organize a site visit to an existing data center before the planning commission’s next meeting.