Lisle Delays Data Center Hearing After Crowd Overflows

Lisle officials hit pause on a proposed data center after opposition from residents spilled out of Village Hall, adding another setback to data center development across suburban Chicago.

The village’s planning and zoning commission postponed a scheduled public hearing Wednesday night after more than 300 residents packed the building, exceeding capacity limits for the board chambers and an overflow room, Mayor Mary Jo Mullen said. The Daily Herald reported that the hearing was set to address a proposal by the developer Cloud Centers to build a 256,000-square-foot, 50-megawatt data center on the long-vacant former Lockformer property at 711 Ogden Avenue.

The 18-acre site has been dormant for more than two decades and carries complications, according to the publication. Lockformer’s former manufacturing operations contaminated local drinking water with toxic chemicals, a legacy that still looms large for residents. Mullen called the episode “a really difficult time for Lisle,” adding that the history makes redevelopment of the site especially sensitive.

Cloud Centers’ proposal calls for a large-scale facility that would tap nearby power infrastructure. Project documents note that the ComEd-owned Lisle substation sits within roughly 500 feet of the property, making it one of the few suburban sites capable of supporting a 50-megawatt load — a key selling point as data center developers scour the region for power-ready land.

But proximity cuts both ways. Residents argued the project is too close to homes, pointing to a subdivision across Ogden Avenue and a residential street less than 300 feet from the site. Concerns include diesel backup generators, constant mechanical noise and emissions from cooling systems.

“I’m not anti-data center, but being less than 300 feet away from homes seems dangerous,” said Lisle resident Vanessa Berry, who has helped organize neighborhood opposition. What started as a lightly attended meeting in December has quickly snowballed. The outlet reported that about 40 residents showed up to a gathering Berry organized last week, and the village said it has received nearly 250 emails about the proposal, most opposing it.

The postponement came a day after Naperville’s City Council voted down its own proposed data center, citing similar fears about power strain, noise and diesel emissions in residential areas. That vote appears to have energized opponents in Lisle and heightened pressure on local officials.

Village Manager Jeffrey Cook said the hearing must be rescheduled with at least 15 days’ public notice and that the proposal will not be discussed again until then. A representative for Cloud Centers could not be reached for comment.

While Mullen said it’s too early to take a position, she suggested municipalities may need clearer regional or statewide guidance as data center demand accelerates.

“This isn’t just a Lisle issue,” she said. “We have to figure out how to do this safely and reasonably without harming residents.”

— Eric Weilbacher