Naperville To Vote On Data Center Proposal Amid Mounting Resistance From Residents

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville is set to vote Tuesday on a proposal to build a 211,000-square-foot data center at 1960 Lucent Ln. The proposed data center has sparked concerns from residents about public safety and health, electrical grid impact, noise pollution and other issues.

Naperville's planning and zoning council members voted 8 to 1 to approve a conditional use permit for the data center campus.

On Tuesday, the council will weigh the conditional use permit, along with zoning variances for parking and wall height for equipment screening.

As of Jan. 16, an online petition had more than 5,000 signatures from residents opposing the data center. The petition's statement reads, in part, "We strongly believe that no amount of 'conditions' can fully mitigate these risks. Once built, the impacts of a single 211,000-square-foot data center will be permanent and irreversible. We urge the City of Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission to deny [the proposed development] in its entirety to protect the health, safety, and quality of life of its residents."

Residents have shared documents with Patch outlining their concerns. Among them is the data center's location, which is near Danada Forest Preserve, Herrick Lake and the city's Sensory Playground. The document also notes that there are a variety of local businesses, restaurants and hotels nearby.

The 211,000-square-foot data center is a reduction of the initial plan, which called for two data centers built in separate phases of construction, per city documents.

The bulk of the data center space would house interconnected computer systems, per the petition submitted Sept. 26. The building would also comprise a 30,000-square-foot office space for critical support personnel.

The data center building would incorporate cooling infrastructure on its rooftop and would provide equipment yard screening from Naperville and Warrenville Roads, according to city documents.

In November, Karis spokesperson Patrick Skarr shared in a statement, "We are grateful for the significant time and thoughtful consideration the Plan Commission, community members, and city staff dedicated to reviewing our proposal to invest more than $250 million in modernizing 40 acres of the former Lucent campus."

He added, "Thanks to Naperville’s rigorous standards and Karis’ commitment to being a responsible neighbor, the plan has been refined and strengthened over the past several months."

The statement from residents asserts, "Naperville has no road map or guiding document in place for data center development. Residents are urging the city to do its diligence and learn from other communities that have failed to mitigate risks to public health and property values, both in the short and long term."

It continues, "Naperville has prided itself on its long (well-deserved) list of 'Best Place...' accolades. Forcing a data center near homes is completely counter to the city's image and commitment to being one of the best places to live and raise a family in the nation. The city must protect this 'outstanding quality of life' for all residents who have invested in the city with their homes and businesses.'"