A massive data-centre campus planned in Grayslake, Illinois, has moved a step closer to construction after the village issued its first building permit, paving the way for an 800,000-square-foot facility. The larger development is expected to involve as much as $18 billion in private investment, but the project has also triggered opposition from residents who say they were not given a meaningful opportunity to weigh in before approvals were granted.
The latest plans call for about 6.7 million square feet of data-centre space to be built over 7 to 10 years. Earlier approvals allowed for a larger development of up to about 473 acres and as much as 10.1 million square feet, according to village documents. Because of what she described as “ambiguous language, hannah Harris, another resident, told CBS that residents did not understand that the project was being approved.
CBS Chicago reported that residents living close to the future data centre said they did not realise what was planned until the project had already been approved.
The village said the initial permit marks the operational start of the multibillion-dollar campus, with site work moving forward. Rob Baum, whose family has owned property near the site for three generations, said he had believed the land was simply farmland and was surprised by the scale of the planned construction. “This was all farm field,” he said. It seemed like they kinda snuck it under the table a little bit,” Baum said. She said she began attending village meetings after learning more about the development, but by then the project had already received approval.
The T5 Data Centres project, known as the Cornerstone development, is planned on land along Peterson Road in Grayslake. “My uncle owns like five acres back there. The concerns extend beyond the size of the buildings. Residents have raised questions about potential environmental effects, water consumption, electricity demand, noise and wetlands around the site.
Earlier reporting by the Daily Herald said opponents argued that the public hearings surrounding the approvals were inadequate and that the village did not commission third-party studies to support some of its conclusions. The opposition has also moved into the legal arena. A lawsuit filed by opponents seeks to challenge the village’s approvals, while residents have organised through the Lake County Data Centre Opposition Coalition. Those are allegations made by opponents and remain subject to the legal process.
T5 Data Centres has defended the development and said it intends to continue engaging with residents. Pete Marin, CEO and chairman of T5, said the company was committed to incorporating community input. He pointed to the company’s decision to voluntarily withdraw an application related to the remediation of local wetlands after hearing concerns from residents.
The company has said the project is expected to generate about $1.4 billion in property tax and permit-fee revenue over 20 years.
T5 has also said it is working with the village on standards involving noise, water and electricity use.