WOLCOTT, IN — After a year of speculation, a proposed data center in White County is apparently moving forward in Mid-America Commerce Park.
A flyer shared to social media Wednesday announced a community open house hosted by Blue Ladder Development for the public to learn more details about a proposed data center.
The open house will be at the Monticello Best Western, 304 S. Sixth St., on Monday, June 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., according to the flyer.
White County Economic Development Organization President Randy Strasser said Thursday that the flyer is authentic, noting the event is being hosted between the White County commissioners and Blue Ladder Development.
Emails to Joshua Levine, representative with Blue Ladder Development, and calls to commissioner Kaleb Pass for more details on the event and the proposed development were not returned Thursday.
In August, Wolcott couple Bart and Amy Snyder filed a lawsuit against the commissioners, the White County Redevelopment Commission, and property owners BOWS4CRM and Liebengood Family Partnership in an effort to overturn rezoning of property neighboring their home.
In the lawsuit, the couple said required steps weren’t followed during the rezoning process for just more than 184 acres near the intersection of U.S. 24 and County Road 1100 West.
“The rezoning applications were not filed by the property owners. Rather, they were filed by the redevelopment commission,” the lawsuit said. “In such a case, Section 12.8.3 of the zoning ordinance requires a notarized letter from the property owners confirming the agent may act on their behalf. Upon information and belief, no such notarized letter exists.”
According to White County’s zoning ordinance, a property owner requesting a zoning map amendment is responsible for preparing, submitting and representing the application either independently or through a legal representative when presenting to local officials. In a case where a property owner wishes to have another party act on their behalf, a notarized letter is required to be submitted to area plan staff.
When filing the rezone applications, no site plan for the property was submitted, which also violates White County’s zoning ordinance, according to the lawsuit. During an Aug. 11 public hearing, officials admitted the lack of a site plan, the lawsuit said. According to the ordinance, a conceptual site plan showing all features relevant to the application — including the exact use and parties involved — is required when submitting a rezoning application to the Area Plan Commission.
“Not only are the rezoning applications incomplete, but the stated reason for the rezonings is not permitted under the zoning ordinance,” the lawsuit said. “As a result, the rezoning approvals are both procedurally unsound as well as arbitrary and capricious, and they should be reversed and vacated.”
A hearing on a motion for summary judgment in the lawsuit is scheduled for July 27.
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: White County data center plans move forward with community open house
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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By Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
