Plymouth Mayor Robert Listenberger is responding to concerns surrounding the city’s proposed annexation and rezoning, particularly questions about whether the property could eventually be used for a data center.
In a statement published on the the City’s Facebook Page, Listenberger said no development proposal has been presented to the city, whether for a data center, factory, distribution center or another type of project.
According to the mayor, property owners are seeking annexation and rezoning to prepare the land for future development. No tenant, construction schedule, investment amount or site plan has been submitted.
“The answers are not being hidden. They do not exist, because there is no specific project to evaluate,” Listenberger said.
The mayor also acknowledged concerns about large data centers and their potential demands on local utilities and infrastructure.
Listenberger said data centers are not currently a permitted use under the city’s zoning ordinance. Anyone seeking to build one on the property would need a use variance, which would require a public hearing.
He also said the proposed annexation and rezoning would not approve any specific development. Future projects would still need to meet zoning requirements and undergo engineering review.
Regarding infrastructure costs, Listenberger said the annexation ordinance and fiscal plan place responsibility for utility extensions on the developer rather than city taxpayers and ratepayers.
The mayor defended preparing the property for future growth, comparing the proposal to earlier efforts that helped establish Plymouth’s industrial and commercial areas.
He said the city should position itself for future jobs and investment while maintaining oversight of development proposals.
“It is reasonable to be skeptical, and residents should keep asking hard questions,” Listenberger said.
He emphasized that the current decision concerns preparing land for potential development, not approving a particular company or building.
Read the full statement at Facebook.