LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After nearly three hours of hearing from the community, the Meade County Fiscal Court agreed with the county's planning and zoning commission's vote against a proposal that would make way for a massive data center.
Residents peppered officials with questions, comments and concerns Tuesday morning and evening about the proposed zoning change that would allow an artificial intelligence data center to be built on a 138-acre site near Brandenburg
The proposal called for the site, located along Joe Prather Highway near Brandenburg, to be rezoned to light industrial use to make way for the facility after years of being used agriculturally.Â
The property's owner confirmed Monday he'd been in discussions with the county about selling the land and a data company has expressed interest.Â
During a special meeting Tuesday morning that went well into the afternoon, the Meade County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously not to recommend the proposed zoning change.Â
That meeting had to be moved to a new room to accommodate the massive crowd of people who went to oppose the plan.
The commission's recommendation wasn't binding, and was passed up to the county's fiscal court, which met Tuesday evening to decide whether to table the proposal or accept the recommendation Tuesday evening.
That meeting at the Meade County courthouse saw another packed room, filled with more residents opposed to the plan.
For the better part of three hours, about 35 people spoke out before the fiscal court. Some concerns highlighted by speakers included water use and utilities.
"They say it takes a lot of water, a lot of water," one resident said. "Well, after they use this water, they have to get rid of it. What are they going to do with their wastewater? There's no sewer, no nothing out there."
The court was also questioned about the number of jobs it might create and the revenue, or lack of revenue, it could bring.Â
"What am I going to get out of it," one resident asked. "How's it going to help Meade County? I don't see anything. So why do it?"
One common question among those opposed to the plan: What's the hurry?
"I don't understand the urgency with this. Nobody is going to die if we don't get it. Nobody is going to go hungry if we don't get it," one resident said, in part. "Why don't we just leave this alone and get something that suits this county a little better? There's something out there to do. If you'll look, you'll find it. If you'll look, you'll find it. The question is, here's my main question, will you all do the right thing? I don't know, and that's a damn shame."
As of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, a Change.org petition had more than 2,700 signatures in opposition to it.
Other data centers are coming to the Louisville area, including facilities in Jeffersonville's River Ridge Commerce Center and Jefferson County. Developers in Oldham County recently withdrew a similar proposal after community opposition.
Related Stories:
Neighbors push back against proposed AI data center in Meade County
META addresses community concerns over southern Indiana data center
LG&E customers could see higher bills under proposed rate hike
Louisville energy plan sparks controversy over rate increase, coal unit extension
Kentucky site chosen for federal AI infrastructure project
Controversial Oldham County data center project dropped after backlash
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
