Surge Development LLC has withdrawn its rezoning application for a proposed data center in Hancock County, according to county officials. The proposal, scheduled for a vote on May 27, aimed to rezone more than 700 acres of farmland in Buck Creek Township into a planned unit development zone. The decision to withdraw follows local concerns about the potential effects on the area’s rural character and agricultural land use.
The proposed site is located near Tuttle Orchards, a longstanding agricultural business with a 95-year history in the area. Known for hosting family visits and school field trips, the orchard’s proximity to the potential data center site raised questions about land use. As reported by WISH-TV, the withdrawal of the application led the Hancock County Plan Commission to cancel the scheduled meeting where the rezoning decision was to be considered.
In reconsidering their approach, Surge Development stated that the concerns and discussions raised by community members were taken into account. "Instead, we will focus our efforts on working directly with the specific users who have expressed interest in the site," the developer said, in a statement to 13News, where Surge Development further elaborated on their decision to retract the rezoning application.
While the specific users of the data center and the scale of potential projects remain undisclosed, the developer’s decision to withdraw suggests an effort to balance development and preservation.
