Proposed data center focus of Shelbyville Common Council and Plan Commission meetings

Moonday’s meeting of the Shelbyville Common Council and the upcoming Wednesday meeting of the Shelbyville Plan Commission will delve into the future prospects of a proposed multi-phase data center.

A global company called Prologis is seeking a rezone of more than 400 acres to locate the data center on Shelbyville’s east side. The proposal calls for up to 13 buildings on the site featuring thousands of construction jobs over three phases of construction. Also, Prologis notes as many as 450 permanent full-time jobs with the site and average salaries over $100,000.

The land is currently zoned Agricultural or Single-Family Residential. Under the request, it would be rezoned General Industrial and annexed into the city. The first reading for that will be at the Shelbyville Common Council meeting 6 p.m. Monday in City Hall. The Shelbyville Plan Commission will then consider that recommendation at its meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday at Breck Auditorium at Shelbyville High School.

Prologis would be the developer and owner of the proposed data center. Nothing has been released indicating a possible tenant once it’s completed.

One of the largest complaints of data center opponents involves the amount of water needed to operate such a facility. As has been often noted by recent developers, technology regarding that has changed over time. The facility would rely on a closed-loop, non-evaporative cooling system. Water would be reused continuously for a year or more before being replaced.

Public comment is anticipated at both the Common Council and Plan Commission meetings.