Colorado Springs City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Sept. 17 to consider appeals of the Planning Commission's approval of Project Taurus, a proposed artificial intelligence data center that has drawn sustained opposition from residents across the city.
The meeting will be held at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts beginning at 9 a.m. The larger venue was selected to handle the "anticipated increased attendance," according to City Council spokesperson Michael Montgomery.
The data center is proposed by California-based company Raeden and would be built in a former semiconductor manufacturing facility off Garden of the Gods Road. Raeden's proposal states that the facility would use up to 50 MW of power and 200,000 gallons of water for its closed-loop cooling system.
City planners are aiming for a shorter hearing than the 14-hour session held in July before the city Planning Commission, which voted during a special meeting to approve the data center. City Council outreach coordinator Sam Friedman told Integrity Matters — the local political nonprofit representing a group of Chelsea Glen neighbors opposed to the data center — that the special meeting would likely last between eight and ten hours.
The September council meeting will allot two hours for 120 comments for or against the data center, with each person allowed two minutes to speak. Speakers will not be allowed to cede time or display multimedia during their comments. For comparison, the Planning Commission meeting featured three hours of comment opposing Project Taurus and roughly 30 minutes of comments supporting the project.
The prospect of a large artificial intelligence data center quickly drew crowds of opposition from nearby neighborhoods and residents across the city, with multiple groups appealing the development plan that was approved by city planning staff. Concerns ranged from water usage to noise levels to the technicalities of the approval process. Those in favor of the center have argued for the project's economic benefits. Project developers have stated that they would work on mitigation efforts, including installing a 30-foot wall to reduce noise and strategically placing chillers below the wall's height.
Although the Planning Commission voted to approve the data center, it placed additional restrictions on its maximum power usage and required reporting of its utility usage. The commission denied the community's appeals against the development, choosing to move forward with modifications to the draft plan, including reviewing sound ordinances and stipulations on energy use. The vote to approve was later appealed, sending the matter to City Council.
The City Council will be the final stop for the data center and the final say on whether the project will move forward in Colorado Springs. Residents who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to email allcouncil@coloradosprings.gov with their name, address, and whether they support or oppose Project Taurus, as the city is registering sign-ups in advance.
The outcome of the Sept. 17 hearing and whether any additional conditions may be attached to an approval or denial remain to be determined.