Google withdraws Franklin Township rezoning proposal; future of potential data center uncertain

INDIANAPOLIS - Google has withdrawn its petition to rezone more than 460 acres of farmland located within Franklin Township on the southeast side of Indianapolis.




Google's proposed plan to rezone the land and build a $1 billion data center was supposed to be up for public debate during a meeting of the Indianapolis City-County Council Monday night. During the meeting, however, the City-County Council confirmed via its official X account that Google had withdrawn its proposal.




The City-County Council has indicated that another hearing related to Google's potential rezoning of the land could be held on Oct. 6 if the company does not submit a formal withdrawal of its petition to the City's Metropolitan Development Commission.




The data center had been the subject of intense community backlash in recent weeks. Previous reporting indicates Franklin Township residents have been voicing their concerns about the proposed data center's use of electricity and water since March.




Some in the community, however, endorsed the project, including members of the Franklin Township School Corporation. In a statement, the district's superintendent, Chase Huotari, indicated that financial incentives that could come from a rezoning deal between the City of Indianapolis and Google could benefit Franklin Township Schools.




Huotari said recent changes to state property tax law - which were approved by Governor Mike Braun in April - have hurt the budget at Franklin Township Schools. Huotari suggested that financial incentives that may come with a Google data center could bridge the funding gap.




Members of the community had gathered at Monday night's City-County Council meeting to protest Google's proposed rezoning plan. The City-County Council would have voted on the rezoning plan had Google not withdrawn its proposal. Monday's potential vote was first set in motion when the Metropolitan Development Commission approved Google's request to rezone Franklin Township land to build a data center in August.




In a statement sent to FOX59/CBS4 Monday night, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett expressed his thoughts on Google's decision to withdraw its proposal:




"Indianapolis is a city where many come to grow, to innovate, and to thrive," Hogsett wrote. "With billions of dollars in ongoing development, significant investment in our economy, and our position as one of LinkedIn's "cities on the rise," it is no wonder Google was interested in calling Indianapolis home. I respect their decision to withdraw their rezoning petition.




"The City remains committed to working alongside business leaders and neighbors to continue attracting new investments that create quality jobs, increase opportunities for construction trade workers, further our economy's growth, and uplift our neighborhoods."




Tech companies have been submitting proposals for data centers across Indiana in recent months. Data centers have notably been proposed in both Morgan County and Hendricks County.




In Lebanon, Meta plans to build a 1,500-acre data center in the City's LEAP Research and Innovation District - a sprawling 9,000-acre project designed to attract tech companies to Indiana. The data center is part of Meta's proposed $800 million investment in the LEAP District.




As of this article's publication, the future of Google's proposed Franklin Township Data Center is unknown. It is currently unclear if the company will formally withdraw the proposal it submitted to the Metropolitan Development Commission or regroup and attempt to get another vote on rezoning scheduled.





via: https://fox59.com/news/google-withdraws-franklin-township-rezoning-proposal-future-of-potential-data-center-uncertain/