A packed house of Charlestown residents could not stop a controversial data center project from inching forward this week, as the city’s Advisory Plan Commission voted 4-3 to advance a roughly 55,000-square-foot facility in the Shadow Lake Business Park. The proposal, estimated at about $105 million on roughly 12 acres near Cristiani Parkway, moved ahead despite repeated calls from residents to hit pause while the city updates its zoning rules for data centers.
Commission Moves Project Forward, With Strings Attached
The commission’s decision on Monday was a procedural step rather than a final green light. Members determined the site plan fits Charlestown’s light-industrial zoning and agreed to send it along to the next phase instead of issuing an immediate building permit.
That approval did not come free and clear. Commissioners attached conditions including an eight-foot berm with trees around the site, pre- and post-blast surveys, and an environmental study, according to Louisville Public Media.
Inside the $105 Million Data Center Pitch
Tampa-based QLEVR LLC wants to build a data center that could use up to five megawatts at full build-out in a single 55,000-square-foot building on about 12 acres at 1800 Cristiani Parkway, with a capital budget close to $105 million, as reported by Louisville Public Media.
City filings and local reporting indicate the facility would start with only a small on-site staff and could eventually grow to roughly 20 permanent jobs. The developer says it plans to use a closed-loop water-cooling system. Construction estimates submitted to the city put the build-out at about 14 to 16 months, according to WDRB.
Neighbors Say It Is the Wrong Project in the Wrong Spot
Dozens of residents showed up to testify that the site sits too close to homes and delivered a petition with more than 800 signatures opposing the plan. Speakers raised alarms about the prospect of constant cooling-fan noise, heavier truck traffic and potential impacts on local wildlife. Many also urged officials to halt approvals until new zoning rules for data centers are in place.
“If the company does not deliver on promises residents must hold them accountable,” one attendee told WLKY. Other local outlets reported similarly strong pushback throughout the meeting, according to Louisville Public Media.
Mayor Breaks With Project, Pledges Tough Oversight
Mayor Treva Hodges has publicly come out against the data center proposal and said that if it does advance, her administration will strictly enforce every condition the commission attached. City officials have also emphasized that any required utility upgrades would be covered by the developer, not existing ratepayers, and that the project would not alter nearby homeowners’ property tax bills. Those assurances, along with the project’s water-use and staffing details, were reported by WDRB.
Charlestown Fight Taps Into a Bigger Indiana Debate
Charlestown is not alone in wrestling with what data centers mean for local neighborhoods. Across Indiana, counties and towns have moved to pause or rewrite their rules, with several adopting six- to 12-month moratoriums while planners study how the facilities affect the power grid, water supplies and residential areas, according to Indiana Public Radio. Local officials say those temporary bans buy time to craft standards for noise, setbacks and utility demands before more projects show up.
What Happens Next
The commission’s vote was a zoning determination, not a final building permit, so the project still faces additional approvals and permits before any dirt gets turned. The developer has agreed to hold a neighborhood meeting, and the city is set to weigh whether to impose a one-year moratorium on future data centers at a later session, according to WLKY.
