Indianapolis’ first attempt to set uniform rules for data center development is moving forward despite passionate calls to hit pause on the process.
Why it matters: The city has approved multiple controversial data centers in the past few months with no dedicated zoning category governing them.
- Wednesday’s hotly contested Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) vote was a labored first step toward changing that for future projects.
Zoom in: Following an hourlong protest outside and more than 90 minutes of discussion inside, the MDC approved the Department of Metropolitan Development’s (DMD) proposed data center zoning regulations in a 5-3 vote, which drew loud boos and bursts of profanity from the crowd.
Here is some of what changed between the April draft and the advancing version…