Beale Infrastructure announced Wednesday afternoon its withdrawal of a proposed 300-acre data center in Gardner.
The California-based company, which is also spearheading another data center project in De Soto, decided to scuttle its Gardner application after the city told the company no incentives would be granted, according to a Wednesday press release from the city.
“Based on the City of Gardner communicating that no incentives would be granted for the proposed data center, Beale Infrastructure decided to withdraw its application and will no longer pursue development of the project in Gardner, Kansas,” the city stated in the release.
For rural Spring Hill resident Nacole Boan, who lives less than a mile from where the proposed data center would have been built near the northeast corner of 191st Street and South Clare Road, the announcement came as a relief.
“I came out of another meeting — I’m out of town for work right now — to like 173 text messages, my phone was blowing up,” Boan said. “I’m ecstatic. I think it shows the power of community. It shows the power of organizing, and I am immensely grateful for the city of Gardner for listening to the people Monday.”
The announcement comes just two days after Monday night’s Gardner City Council meeting, where about 100 people attended and more than 30 people spoke against the proposal during public comment, including state Sen. Doug Shane, who represents Kansas Senate District 37.
While the city council took no action on the proposal Monday night, it did adjourn into executive session at the end of the meeting “to discuss attorney-client privilege related to the data center,” said Mayor Todd Winters.
‘They’re telling you where they stand’
Shane urged the city council to halt the process, saving the city and Beale Infrastructure time and money doing work on something the community doesn’t want.
“I’m quite confident that all of you have spent time looking at this issue, have already spent time looking at mitigation measures,” Shane told the city council. “But tonight, our constituents are wearing their hearts on their sleeves, and they’re telling you where they stand.”
If Beale Infrastructure had not pulled its proposal, then the Gardner Planning Commission would’ve considered the measure later this month, which would’ve then led to a possible city council vote in June.
One of the residents in attendance Monday night, Kyle Eisenbarger, said he’s relieved Beale pulled the proposal. He lives right across from the site in unincorporated Johnson County.
“It’s been a ton of work up to this point, and it just feels great to be able to let off the gas and take a breather,” Eisenbarger said.
City officials said they’re thankful for the community’s engagement.
“The governing body would like to thank community members who engaged in discussions related to the project,” Winters said in a press release. “We stand committed to pursuing responsible economic development opportunities for our community.”
Beale promised to use less water than other large data centers
