(La Porte, IN) - A proposed Microsoft data center expansion in La Porte has taken a step forward.

 

The La Porte Plan Commission Tuesday night approved a request to rezone much of what’s now close to 1,300 acres of farmland to manufacturing.  Mayor Tom Dermody told the plan commission the time for such a positive life-changing development is now.

 

“Tonight is that moment in time you’re all going to look at and say do we move our community forward and start competing with the best,” he said.

 

Microsoft has agreed to pay all of the property taxes at both sites adjacent to each other in the area of Boyd Boulevard and U.S. 35.  That will mean tens of millions of dollars annually for the city and several millions dollars a year for the La Porte School Corporation and county government.

 

“This type of economic development, it’s rare.  A lot of communities are hoping for this kind of development,” said citizen Shaun McMurray.

 

Resident David Porter, who lives about a half mile from the site, expressed concerns that included low frequency noise from data centers.

 

“I heard there are low frequency vibrations coming from data centers.  You can’t hear it but you can feel it.  People report adverse health effects,” he said.

 

The rezoning is contingent upon the city council deciding to annex that property into the city at the request of the landowners.  A vote by the council on the annexation request is expected at the next city council meeting on May 18.