Tuttle Orchards not happy about prospect of getting new data center as next door neighbor
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, several families stopped by the modest arrangement of half a dozen white buildings, buying produce, baked goods and plants to take home. In the fall, when the apples ripen, cars line the parking lot as people flock to the site for fall activities.
The scene is bucolic, except for the occasional semi-truck that speeds by on the narrow but busy road adjacent to the orchard, a reminder of the commercial industry that is creeping into the rural area. Now, Hancock residents are concerned a proposed industrial development next door could change the serene nature of the orchard, which dates back to 1928.
Surge Development LLC, a Shelbyville-based company, has submitted a rezoning petition to build a MegaSite Planned Unit Development around the intersection of N 400 W. and W 500 N. on hundreds of acres of farmland. The 775-acre site would back up against the orchard.
Approval for the industrial complex just east of the Indianapolis Regional Airport would open the door to building a data center campus next to the apple trees.
Tuttle's owners earlier this month expressed their concerns about how the Surge development would change their area in a letter sent to customers and posted on social media.
"The atmosphere and surrounding landscape to the farm are important to our success," the Roney family wrote in the letter. "The presence of large industrial buildings very close to the farm could detract from this environment and erode the unique appeal that draws families, schools, and community groups to our farm year after year. As a business that has served our community for over 95 years, we want to continue to serve our community."
The Roney family, descendants of the orchard's founder Roy Tuttle, are also circulating a petition and asking customers to send comments to the Hancock County Planning Commission. Tuttle Orchards owners declined a request for an interview for this story.
Though many in the area have expressed public opposition to the site, the more than 700 acres were designated for future manufacturing use in the county's 2023 comprehensive land use plan.
Massive data centers for digital data and computing technology have drawn the ire of neighbors across the country, as more and more land goes to fuel the rise in artificial intelligence. Often times, the companies behind data centers remain a mystery to those in the community.
In this instance, Surge Development has been public about its intent. The company said that it is amending the initial plans and will present an updated proposal at a public informational meeting on May 8 at Greenfield-Central High School following meetings with Tuttle's and other local landowners.
The plan will likely go through more tweaks before the Hancock County Area Planning Commission hears it on May 27.
Surge Development principal Chris King said he wants to be a good neighbor and hear the public feedback.
"Part of what is important to me is that we are respectful and we listen to those comments, and we are making those decisions for everyone to coexist," King said.
In a letter of intent to the county, Surge Development said the megasite will "allow for the development of a Data Center/Industrial campus with a variety of uses with flexibility to grow as the market may dictate which would include electrical infrastructure and accessory uses to support a technologically advanced and significant investments in Hancock County."
While Surge Development is behind the rezoning petition, a different company would sign on to the project to operate the data center.
"At this point, our focus is planning the overall site, then we will work with local economic development to draw in businesses," King said. "It's really about trying to get everything in order to make sure the site can support that development and get the proper zoning. We've done a lot of work on this land."
Residents worry the development will drain the area's resources because data centers require large amounts of water and energy to keep the technology running and cooled. As a resident in neighboring Shelby County, King said he understands such concerns but added that the company is committed to building an industrial site with transparent operations.
Duke Energy and 9Star Connect provide energy to the property while Citizens and 9Star provide water. Surge has also worked with Aqua Indiana to ensure proper wastewater treatment.
"As the site develops, we would create a utility plan that we would share with the county and how it can be met with the available utilities as we see those needs," King said. "We're going to make it clear and present it so that it's available to the public."
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