INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two city-county councilors told News 8 Monday a data center proposed for Franklin Township provides too little benefit at too much cost.

The Metropolitan Development Commission on Wednesday approved rezoning land off South Post Road in Franklin Township for a Google data center despite numerous objections from people who live in the area. Since then, at least 11 members of the Indianapolis City-County Council have publicly stated they oppose the project. That number includes all six Republicans plus Democrats Jesse Brown, John Barth, Frank Mascari, Andy Nielsen and Kristin Jones. Together, those councilors account for nearly half of the body’s 25 members.

Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, a Republican whose district includes the proposed data center site, said he takes issue with the fact that the center is projected to bring 50 jobs to the area despite significant potential costs to utility ratepayers and quality of life. City documents show officials would provide about $2.7 million in property tax breaks over 10 years. For comparison, Hart said two other recent technology developments in his district are projected to bring a combined 500 jobs to the area with fewer tax breaks.

Hart said he’s not opposed to data centers but the site is a bad place for one. “Right here in an area where you have a lot of residential, a lot of opportunity for a lot of other things that would bring a lot more impact in a positive way, this particular instance just doesn’t work for a data center,” he said.

Most of the councilors who have stated their opposition to the data center represent the southern or southeastern portions of Marion County, including all of the councilors who represent districts in or bordering Franklin Township. Councilors representing districts farther away from Franklin Township also have weighed in against the proposal, including Democrats Jesse Brown and John Barth. Brown echoed Hart’s concerns in a statement to News 8 and said he also had serious concerns about environmental damage.

“I have received dozens and dozens of emails and phone calls from constituents and people in Franklin Township. Literally every single one of these is opposed to the proposed Google data center. This is an expensive, unpopular, potentially environmentally devastating proposal that provides very little in terms of community benefits. 

I am a solid “No” on any rezoning, permitting, or tax abatement requests related to this data center, and I hope that all 24 of my colleagues join me in firmly opposing this boondoggle.”

(D) City-County Councilor Jesse Brown

Hart said he plans to call down the rezoning request for council action on Sept. 8. This procedural motion starts the process for a public hearing and a vote. Hart said the council’s final vote would be no earlier than its Sept. 22 meeting. He said if the council approves the rezoning request, Google would be able to build the data center. If the council rejects it, that action would kill the project.

Council President Vop Osili and Council Majority Leader Maggie Lewis did not return News 8’s request for comment. Google also did not return a request for comment.

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