INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A new $1B Google Data Center in Indianapolis is one step away from becoming reality. A proposal for the center passed the Metropolitan Development Commission on Wednesday afternoon.

Now it goes to a full council vote, but many residents who live near the site in Franklin Township are upset; many booed the committee after the proposal passed 8-1.

The 486 acres of farm land is located in Post Road and Troy Avenue on the city’s southeast side.

Julie Goldsberry has lived in the area for 40 years. She spoke about the noise the facility is expected to put out (65 decibels, equal to the sound of a vacuum cleaner) and voiced concerns about possible pollution, increase of the electricity and water rates at the meeting. She came with a lot of support.

“I ask first that everyone whose here to express the opposition to the Franklin Township Data Center to please stand.”

Nearly everyone in attendance, around 300 people, stood, but Julie and the data center opposition didn’t get their way.

“Of course we’re disappointed,” she told News 8 after the vote. “We have been messing around with this for many months. A lot of work to get stuff ready for today. It felt like what we said was disregarded, that minds were already made up in advanced.”

Under the proposal, the data center is expected to create 50 jobs and will have 10 to 50 years of tax abatement. It will also take about 10 years for its development.

Jim Schellinger, the president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, also attended the meeting and supports the move to re-zone in order to uncover more information about the proposal.

“It’s technology that we need to do the things that help our lives and help us to exist, cutting edge-technology that, if the questions get answered and get answered to somebody’s satisfaction, it might take a city like Indianapolis and a township like Franklin Township to put us on the map as the first to do something really great.”

Franklin Township, a population of about 65,800 population represented by Republican Michael-Paul Hart.

“I cannot support this proposal as currently structured,” Hart said. “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. We must do better.”

Hart says that he works in IT and is familiar with data centers. He said that he was concerned that Google through Deep Meadow Ventures LLC did not share a lot of information with him or to the public.

After Wednesday’s vote, Mayor Joe Hogsett issued a statement on the proposed data center campus.

“It says a lot about our city’s continued economic growth when a company like Google shows interest in Indianapolis. Over the last several years, we have seen more companies within the tech industry bring their business and operations here because they understand that Indianapolis is a vibrant place to work, live, and play.

“We are committed to doing what’s in the best interest of our residents, especially those living in Franklin Township, and will continue to evaluate this proposal carefully. It is important to know that multiple steps remain in the City approval process as it heads to the City-County Council.”

The City County Council is expected to vote on the proposal in September and, if approved, the developers can begin construction as soon as this year.

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