The Champaign County Commissioners held a public meeting on Thursday afternoon at the request of residents to address concerns surrounding a proposed data center development in Urbana.
Commissioners Nino Vitale and Tim Cassady told attendees they recognize the community’s concerns regarding energy use, water impact, environmental questions, and quality of life. Both said they are actively exploring avenues related to the cancellation of the land agreement connected to the project.
The central issue, according to the commissioners, is the legality of altering or canceling the existing agreement. A real estate purchase agreement was signed in September 2024 between the Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP), acting as the county’s agent, and Highland Realty.
Commissioners did not provide a timeline for potential next steps.
The meeting followed a letter sent last week by the board to Urbana city officials and media outlets. In that letter, commissioners stated they were originally approached in March 2024 about selling land for an industrial park along South State Route 68 and were not informed at that time that a data center was being considered.
All parcels involved are located within Urbana city limits. City Council has already approved annexation, zoning, and rezoning for the property, as well as a Community Reinvestment Area agreement.
Project details were presented to the Urbana City Council this week under the name “Urbana Technology Hub.” Plans call for a 460,000-square-foot, single-story data center near the intersection of State Routes 55 and 68. Developers have described the project as a more than $1 billion private investment projected to generate over $3 million annually in new tax revenue and create between 30 and 80 permanent jobs.
Public comment at the commissioners meeting included residents and representatives from local organizations, including Cedar Bog Nature Preserve and Vancrest of Urbana nursing home. Several attendees stated they plan to continue voicing concerns.
Peak of Ohio will continue to follow updates on this story.
