Metropolitan Economic Development Committee Meeting

The Metropolitan Economic Development Committee met on July 14, 2026, under Chair Bob Ossley to consider two major items: Proposal 237 to eliminate parking minimums citywide and Proposal 238 to amend zoning regulations for data center development. After extensive debate and public testimony, Proposal 237 was postponed to the November 9th committee meeting, and Proposal 238 was amended to include a moratorium on data centers and advanced to the full council.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Parking Minimums (Proposal 237):

• Nathaniel Martin Nelson (resident near 38th and College) spoke in favor, arguing parking minimums increase costs, deter development, and do not protect neighborhoods from spillover. He noted 116 U.S. cities have eliminated mandates.
• Unnamed speaker (no name given) supported the resolution, stating parking minimums incentivize car use, increase infrastructure costs, and constrain development density.
• Elizabeth Nager (Little Flower neighborhood) urged the committee to consider the needs of seniors and mobility-impaired residents when making policy changes.

On Data Centers (Proposal 238): Nearly all speakers supported a moratorium or ban on data centers, citing health, environmental, and economic concerns:

• Christian Stoddard (Decatur Township) highlighted health risks from noise, infrasound, and pollution; criticized MDC for approving projects without independent impact studies.
• Jason Hurley criticized the approval process for a data center at Thunderbird, feeling public input was ignored.
• Wes Leaper (District 7) argued data centers primarily benefit large tech companies and urged that communities retain control over their futures.
• Donna Blair supported the moratorium, noting negative effects on home prices, environment, and health seen in other studies.
• Meredith Sharp (Protect FT) expressed anger over secrecy and lack of protections, urging a ban and a committee of community members.
• Joshua Ferrier warned of irreversible water depletion from data centers, particularly to the karst aquifer system.
• Brett Sullivan (near a proposed data center) opposed due to noise and air pollution from diesel generators.
• Maureen Dobie (near Councilor Barth) said AI and data centers are being forced on the public and supported a moratorium.
• Kevin Nichols (Earth Charter Indiana) noted 17 Indiana counties have enacted moratoriums; said data centers undermine Indianapolis's carbon neutrality goals.
• Paula Hart (Decatur Township) expressed frustration with tax abatements for data centers while residents face tax increases, and criticized the unelected MDC.
• Rebecca Burris (Decatur Township, social worker) cited health studies showing asthma and premature deaths from data center pollution, and urged time for responsible development.
• Martin DiAugostino (Fall Creek Place) asked for public benefit agreements and mayor involvement, but supported a moratorium for thoughtful policy.
• William Bowler (District 8, AI researcher) noted AI's resource demands and said many planned data centers are unnecessary.
• Kelly Hammond (Citizens Action Coalition) supported the moratorium, saying communities feel steamrolled and need meaningful participation.
• Manoy Wright (former City Market facility director) supported a ban, saying data centers undermine sustainability efforts and harm communities like Martindale.
• Megan Anderson detailed resource strain, pollution, and tax avoidance; noted Google's Fort Wayne data center will exceed voluntary emission limits rapidly.
• Phil Gabriel (Pike Township) supported stricter regulations and the moratorium.
• Pat Andrews (Decatur Township Civic Council, MCANA) said data centers are not warehouses and need an ordinance that protects neighborhoods; supported moratorium.
• Amy Goosman (West Side Indivisible, Dandy Trail) raised concerns about water and utility costs, calling it a social justice issue.
• Randy Berryman (Decatur Township) said citizens have lost faith in elected officials and need to be heard; supported moratorium.
• Mark Smith (Decatur Township) asked why corporations don't build away from neighborhoods; supported study via moratorium.
• Chip Pearson invoked the Golden Rule: don't put data centers in others' backyards.
• Chloe Bistons (Hoosier Environmental Council) said Indiana's weakened environmental rules make data centers dangerous; need for future generations.
• Camille Walker (minority business owner, AI ethics integrator) supported moratorium to address misinformation and ensure ethical progress.
• William Smith (Wayne Township precinct captain, autistic) said noise from data centers would harm him; supported moratorium.
• Annette Johnson (Pike Township trustee) said senior citizens are concerned about high utility bills; thanked council for moratorium and noted Pike Township stopped a data center.
• Jeff Stunt (Forest for All, Indiana Forest Alliance) urged requiring closed-loop water and proving electricity sources; called for a ban rather than moratorium.

Discussion Items

Proposal 237 – Elimination of Parking Minimums

Councilor Jesse Brown (District 13) presented the resolution, explaining that 27% of the urban core is surface parking, which provides low tax revenue, worsens stormwater, and creates heat islands. He said the resolution would remove city involvement in parking requirements, allowing developers and banks to decide, and is non-binding – a recommendation to the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) to initiate zoning changes. He noted 100+ cities have done this, including South Bend.

Councilor Michael Paul Hart (District 20) opposed a countywide approach, stating Marion County is diverse (urban core vs. rural townships) and that existing transit-oriented development (TOD) areas already have reduced minimums. He suggested focusing only on dense areas.

Councilor Nick Roberts (District 4) supported the proposal, calling parking mandates "government red tape," and noted bipartisan support elsewhere (e.g., North Carolina).

Councilor Derek Cahill (District 23) noted that excessive parking lots are underused and that variances are hard to obtain; he asked whether the parking minimums could be addressed via the data center zoning amendment, but Councilor Brown preferred a separate process.

Councilor Brian Delini (District 2) asked for DMD's perspective on the counter-arguments for minimums (e.g., preventing spillover).

Megan Vukasic (DMD Director) confirmed that DMD is conducting an eight-month parking study to inform policy, and that minimums exist to prevent spillover parking into neighborhoods.

Councilor Kristen Jones (District 18) said her constituents are waiting for the study, and she moved to postpone the resolution to the November 9th committee meeting (after budget season) to allow more community conversation. The motion passed unanimously (no audible nays). Councilor Jones noted the study would not be complete by then, but discussion could proceed.

Proposal 238 – Data Center Zoning Amendment

President Maggie Lewis (District 5) introduced an amendment to her own proposal (Proposal 238) to replace the original text with a moratorium on data centers ending no later than December 31, 2027. The moratorium would allow DMD staff to develop regulations with a committee of experts and community members, addressing building height, sound levels, environmental concerns, etc. She said the decision to pause followed feedback that more work is needed.

Councilor John Barth (District 7) supported the moratorium, noting the community wants more time, and emphasized that the MDC must ultimately act; public engagement at MDC meetings remains critical.

Councilor Brian Delini thanked staff for prior work and acknowledged the timeline was driven by a lack of existing regulations; he clarified that the moratorium could be lifted earlier if work is completed.

Councilor Derek Cahill raised a technical concern: the amendment strikes the definition of "data center," leaving ambiguity. He feared the moratorium would lack teeth and could trigger a rush of filings before it takes effect. DMD Director Vukasic confirmed the zoning code currently has no definition, but telecommunication facilities are separately defined.

Councilor Michael Paul Hart noted that without a definition, similar developments (e.g., fiber nodes) could still be built via variance of use, bypassing council review. He argued a set of regulations would offer more protection than a moratorium.

Councilor Jesse Brown expressed frustration with the MDC, noting the council had previously asked for a moratorium months ago, and that the MDC has the power to act now but chooses not to.

Councilor Andy Nielsen (District 14) thanked DMD for their work and President Lewis for leadership, stressing that the council is listening and the process must continue.

Councilor Carlos Perkins (District 6) voiced support for the moratorium.

Councilor Nick Roberts reported his survey showed over 90% support for a data center moratorium in his district; he supported the pause.

Councilor Brian Mowery (District 25) said he supported the concept but could not vote for it without a definition; President Lewis committed to adding the definition before the full council vote.

Councilor Derek Cahill suggested sending the original proposal unamended to full council with an intent to amend, but President Lewis objected, saying the original proposal needs more work.

The committee voted on President Lewis's amendment: it passed with three nays (Cahill, Hart, Mowery). The committee then voted on Proposal 238 as amended; it also passed with the same three nays, sending it to the full council with a due pass recommendation.

Key Outcomes

• Proposal 237 (Parking Minimums): Postponed to the November 9, 2026 committee meeting to allow further discussion with stakeholders.
• Proposal 238 (Data Centers): The committee adopted an amendment imposing a moratorium on data center development until December 31, 2027 (or earlier if regulations are completed). The proposal as amended passed (with nays from Cahill, Hart, Mowery) and will go to the full city-county council on August 10, 2026 with a due pass recommendation. President Lewis committed to adding a definition of "data center" to the amendment before the final council vote.