Urbana residents gathered at the Champaign County Fairgrounds Tuesday evening after a regularly scheduled city council meeting was canceled, using the time to discuss the proposed data center project in the southern part of the city.
The meeting was organized by community members as an opportunity to review recent developments, share information, and outline possible next steps related to the project. Attendees also revisited the timeline of events leading up to the current proposal.
During the meeting, several potential actions were discussed. These included the possibility of a statewide petition to place a data center ban on the November ballot, as well as encouraging Urbana City Council to consider an ordinance that would repeal recent zoning changes tied to the project.
Other ideas mentioned included local initiative petitions, recall petitions for city council members and the mayor, and potential legal action related to zoning concerns.
Organizers also outlined ways for residents to stay involved. Suggestions included attending and speaking at public meetings such as the city council, county commission, planning commission, and zoning appeals meetings. Community members were also encouraged to contact local officials, sign petitions, educate neighbors, and participate in public discussions regarding the project.
No member of the public was available for comment. No official decisions were made during the gathering, and the discussion reflected a range of viewpoints and proposed actions from those in attendance.
