A local developer is weighing plans for a data center campus in rural Hancock County that could occupy as much as 776 acres east of the Indianapolis Regional Airport.
The county’s Plan Commission on April 22 will consider a request from Shelbyville-based Surge Development LLC, which is asking for a zoning change and variances to advance its proposal for a planned-use development that would mostly center on data center uses.
Chris King, principal of Surge Development, said the rezoning request is not user-specific and there are no firm plans for a company to establish operations on the property. Rather, the request is meant to be proactive, to allow a would-be user to move quickly on development.
“While there has been interest from multiple users, the intent is to enable the site to support manufacturing, data center and AI uses that align with Hancock County’s long-term planning goals and to position the area for future investment by one or more potential users,” King told IBJ in written responses to emailed questions.
While the entire site would span an assemblage of two dozen parcels across a 1.5-mile-by-1-mile area, the initial project would take up about one-third of the total property, according to case documents filed with the county in late March. King said the properties are not under contract.
The property is largely bounded by County Road West 600 North to the north; County Road North 300 West to the east; North 400 West to the west; and, to the south, by the halfway point between County Roads West 500 North and West 400 North. One of the parcels extends further west to abut Buck Creek.
According to the Greenfield Daily Reporter, which first reported the development, the property would be large enough to accommodate 19 Lucas Oil Stadiums and 1-1/2 Indianapolis Motor Speedways.
Based on proposed site plans, the first phase would consist of about five main buildings, as well as numerous electrical, administrative and cooling facilities. The data center campus would also have multiple retention ponds. Parking specifications for the site were not immediately available.
King said he expects development would occur in phases over the next five years, based on demand and infrastructure buildout.
While each of the buildings would be less than 75 feet tall—about 25 feet higher than is typically allowed—they would have compliant property setbacks and meet most other parameters outlined in county zoning ordinances.
King is also principal and executive vice president of industrial and commercial contractor and developer Runnebohm Construction Co. Inc., which is also based in Shelbyville. He was a 2016 Forty Under 40 honoree for IBJ.
A Hancock County economic development representative did not return a call requesting comment about the project Wednesday morning.
Already, some residents and area businesses are pushing back on proposal. On Tuesday night, Tuttle Orchards sent an email to its patrons sharing that the project would abut its pick-your-own apples area and pumpkin patch.
“We have concerns that this proposal could significantly alter the character of the area and negatively impact Tuttle Orchards,” the email said. “The atmosphere and surrounding landscape to the farm are important to our success. The presence of large industrial buildings very close to the farm could detract from this environment and erode the unique appeal that draws families, schools, and community groups to our farm year after year. As a business that has served our community for over 95 years, we want to continue to serve our community.”
The email included a form for residents to register their views about the project with county officials. The form specifically states that the orchard is seeking rejection of the proposal.
An orchard staff member confirmed the authenticity of the email on Wednesday morning, saying it was sent to customers, but deferred additional questions to owners, who were not immediately available to discuss the project.
King told IBJ that Surge representatives have been “actively meeting with community members” to discuss the project and is working to make accommodations based on feedback.
”We are committed to being a good neighbor and believe that through open communication and collaborative planning, we can arrive at solutions that balance economic development with community priorities,” he said. “It’s also important to note that the project has received significant support from others in the community who see the long-term benefits of responsible development.”
It’s not the first time a massive development has been proposed in Hancock County, nor is it the first time central Indiana has seen interest from data center developers in agricultural land.
In 2022, Hancock County officials considered a project from Chicago-based 5M group, which was trying to rezone as many as 3,000 acres near Interstate 70 and County Road 200 West for a megasite, a portion of which would have been used for manufacturing.
King said a portion of the land involved in the data center development was previously part of that since-abandoned project.
“The rezone request is consistent with prior planning efforts in the area and is informed by Hancock County’s adopted Future Land Use Plan,” he said. “The intent is to build upon those efforts and ensure the land is ready for meaningful industrial and technology-focused investment.”
Data centers have cropped up across the state in recent years, particularly as technology companies further emphasize rapidly changing and power-hungry mediums, such as artificial intelligence. The proliferation of the facilities has led to further discussions about environmental impact and utility usage, as well as the long-term economic impact on communities they call home—particularly as facility operations become more automated.
In February, IBJ reported on plans for a 381-acre data center project in Morgan County, with the county’s board of commissioners voting unanimously to approve a rezone of the land to allow for the project. That rezoning request was made by the Morgan County Economic Development Corp. on behalf of an unnamed developer and end user.
That same month, a Denver-based company called Vantage Data Centers said it would pursue a new facility in Pittsboro in Hendricks County. That project, which has since been approved by town leaders, called for a rezone of a 618-acre site to light industrial uses, with about 285 acres for data center operations.
And an unidentified tech company is considering developing a major data center campus on a 468-acre site along South Post Road on the far-southeast side of Indianapolis. That complex, first reported in March, is a pursuit from Deep Meadow Ventures LLC, which is asking for a rezone of the land to allow for industrial uses. A hearing on the case won’t occur before May 15.
Last year, Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry said Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Inc. could pursue a $4.8 billion, multi-phase data center campus as part of the LEAP Lebanon district. The company has so far not made any formal announcements.
For King, the focus of the Hancock County project largely rests on getting the site ready for future development.
“As technology and infrastructure needs evolve, communities that proactively prepare sites with appropriate zoning and infrastructure will be best positioned for success,” he said. “Our focus is on ensuring that any future development is aligned with community goals, supports responsible infrastructure planning, and delivers long-term value for residents, workers and the community at large.”
IBJ reporter Susan Orr contributed to this story.