The packed assembly room at the Burns Harbor Fire Station on Monday, August 5. JAMES WOODS/Photo
Burns Harbor residents have unanimously informed city officials that they do not want a data center built in their community.
On Monday, August 5, over 100 people flocked to City Hall for the Burns Harbor Plan Commission meeting.
The meeting had to be moved to the neighboring Burns Harbor Fire Station, and there was still standing room only and people were sitting on the floor.
After a nearly two-hour, at times nervous and tense meeting, the seven-member planning commission agreed to adjourn the matter until September 9.
More than 20 people lined up to speak against the proposal.
Aside from attorney Todd Leeth, representing Provident Realty Services of Dallas, Texas, no one spoke in favor of the proposal.
One speaker, who was enthusiastically supported by the crowd, noted that Provident Realty could not provide a single reason why Burns Harbor would benefit.
Another audience member interrupted the meeting at least three times, shouting that the data center project posed a high fire hazard to the community.
The Texas developer has an option on 102 acres at the corner of S. Babcock and Haglund roads, currently owned by Worthington Steel, for a data center complex with up to seven buildings that could be up to 120 feet tall.
Provident Realty did not disclose dollar amounts, but when a similar proposal for 8 buildings in Chesterton came up, the developer stated that the investment would be around $1.3 billion and would generate significant tax revenue.
The planning commission had two items on the agenda on Monday.
Provident Realty Advisors called for the creation of a new zoning designation called the “S8 Technology Use District.”
The Planning Commission agreed that it would be best to revisit the S8 Technology District at the Sept. 9 meeting. Until that matter is resolved, the commission cannot decide the second question of rezoning the property, she said.
The 102 acres are designated as a residential area. The decisions of the planning commission are merely recommendations; the city council has the final say.
If the matter were to be referred to the Council, it would not be until September at the earliest.
One of the most tense moments of the meeting came when Planning Commission member Gordon McCormick accused City Attorney Clay Patton of failing to protect the city’s interests by working with Attorney Leeth to draft the zoning plan.
“Are you working for us or for him?” McCormick said.
“That’s a thorn in my side, Gordon,” Patton responded, noting that he had been instructed by city officials to help design the SD 8 Technology District so the Planning Commission could discuss the issue. Patton said McCormick was aware that he had been instructed to write the district proposal.
McCormick said he is against the proposed 120-foot height of the buildings. He does not believe a building should be taller than 60 feet, especially considering that the Burns Harbor fire engine has a 75-foot ladder.
The chairman of the planning commission, Jeremy McHargue, the city’s police chief, also said he had a problem with the proposed height.
Commission member Bernie Poparad asked attorney Leeth if the city’s insistence that data center buildings be no taller than 60 feet could “sink the whole thing.”
“Sixty feet would destroy the whole thing,” Leeth replied, which drew cheers from the audience. Leeth said his client wanted flexibility in the height of a data center.
Leeth then asked the Planning Commission if it would allow a height of 120 feet if a building setback of 100 feet was provided. The Commission did not respond favorably to Leeth’s suggestion.
Phyllis Constantine, who has lived on Haglund Road since 1964, had had enough and screamed that outside interests were trying to take away the neighborhood they had fought to preserve.
“The property is vacant and it’s not hurting anyone. But it will happen if you start putting things there that will make noise and hurt us,” Constantine said. “Look at the bigger picture, not what this man is trying to sell you.”
McCormick and a number of residents said they found the 50-foot setback problematic. McCormick said he believes there should be a buffer zone of about 300 feet between an industrial and residential area.
Ed Orlando, who has been actively opposed to the data center on social media, pointed out that allowing a building 120 feet tall under the building code would be considered “frustration of the use of the adjacent property.”
Orlando also pointed to other potential problems the data center would bring, including light and noise pollution, high fences and security measures.
Sharon Hansen said she is an IT professional and has worked in a data center before. She said that in general, they do not need that many employees.
Data centers typically use a lot of water and electricity and require high security precautions with lighting and fencing. Hansen said the sites are sterile and there is a risk of birds and bats flying into the fences.
“Board, you are being tricked. Big time,” said Hansen.
Joe Miller, who lives on Castle Street, said if the city approved construction of the data center, his and other neighbors’ properties would suffer a “loss in value.”
Kim Illic, a Stanley Street resident, said the presence of the data center complex would have a detrimental impact on the city’s nearby Lakeland Park.
Towards the end of the meeting, Planning Commission and City Council member Roseann Bozak offered her comments. She listened to the meeting on speakerphone because she was on vacation.
“Let’s please take a minute and listen to each other. The things I’ve read and seen on Facebook are terrible. Terrible,” Bozak said.
Bozak said it is difficult to get people to participate in city government because there are open seats on several committees.
“Nobody cares unless it makes people angry,” Bozak said. The audience did not react well to her remarks.
However, McHargue stated at one point in the meeting that he appreciated people showing up and voicing their opinions.
“There is clearly support in a certain direction, and if you think you are not being heard, you are wrong,” McHargue said.
